Five Things You Didn鈥檛 Know 银河澳门银河澳门

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Five Things You Didn鈥檛 Know 银河澳门 U of I

Three cloned mules with three Idaho researchers, mules from left to right are Idaho Star, Utah Pioneer, Idaho Gem

1. We Were the First to Clone a Mule

银河澳门 and Utah State University became the first researchers to clone a member of the equine/horse family worldwide in 2003. Idaho Gem was the first mule cloned and Idaho Star followed. The mules were trained for racing and debuted their skills in 2006. While the clones have identical DNA and therefore the same capabilities athletically, their personalities were different — Idaho Gem took to racing more than Idaho Star. The success of this project has produced commercial significance and has helped to advance research in cellular biology, which has ties to cancer research. The third mule was trained as a saddle mule, named Utah Pioneer.

Get to know the world’s first mule clones better! Check out these articles:

– 银河澳门 New Archive
– 银河澳门 New Archive
– The Spokesman Review

Jockey racing on Idaho Gem at the Sonoma Fair in 2006, "UI" on cloned mule to represent 银河澳门

2. We Developed the Potato Used for McDonald’s Fries

Idahoans know their potatoes. U of I’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center is the birthplace of the Clearwater Russet. This potato was selected by McDonald’s to be used for their famous french fries. In more recent years, the U of I Extension Center has been involved in the National Chip Processing Trials, aiming to develop a better potato to be used for potato chips.

Potato research can be found here:

“Supplying the Food Chain” – 银河澳门
– Potato News Today
Idaho’s Land Grant University Research – Made for Idaho – 银河澳门

The 银河澳门 Administration Building at dusk.

3. The 银河澳门 is Older Than the State of Idaho

That’s right. Not only is the U of I the oldest university in the state, but it’s also older than Idaho’s statehood! 银河澳门 was founded Jan. 30, 1889, when the state was still a territory. Statehood was granted under President Lincoln July 3, 1890, who also signed the Morrill Act, which provided land to found land-grant universities. The 银河澳门 is the only land-grant in the state. Idaho’s “Morrill Hall” is one of many found at land-grant universities across the United States named after the senator who introduced the bill.

Check out more about Idaho’s history:

– KTVB7

Tom Mueller poses with three rocket engines, which are nearly twice as tall as he is.

4. Alumnus is a Cofounder of SpaceX

Idaho Native and U of I alumnus Tom Mueller ’85 graduated from the 银河澳门 with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering. After earning his master’s degree, Mueller became a rocket development engineer. Shortly after in 2002, he began working with Elon Musk and Chris Thompson. Mueller played a crucial role in the design of the Merlin rocket engine as the vice president of propulsion — later becoming the propulsion chief technology officer. Mueller is now the CEO of Impulse Space.

Explore Mueller’s journey in rocket science:

"From Logger to SpaceX Co-Founder" – 银河澳门
"STEM Education leads to Career in Rocket Science" – 银河澳门

The four graduating students in the class of 1896, from left to right Stella Maud (Allen), Florence May (Corbett), Charles Luther Kirtley, Arthur Prentiss Adair.

5. Half of the First Graduating Class Were Women

The first graduating class from the 银河澳门 earned their degrees in 1896. Of the four alumni, two were women. Meet the class of 1896! (From left to right)

Stella Maud (Allen) Roberts graduated with a bachelor of arts in philosophy. She was a university librarian after graduating until 1899.

Florence May (Corbett) Johnston graduated with a bachelor of arts. She was a teaching assistant for Preparatory Latin and English at U of I for two years after.

Charles Luther Kirtley graduated with bachelor of science in civil engineering.

Arthur Prentiss Adair graduated with a bachelor of science in civil engineering and later attended graduate school at the 银河澳门, earning a Master of Science in engineering.