Five things you didn't know about U of I 

1. We were the first to clone a mule

University of Idaho 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:

• “University of Idaho, Utah State University Team First to Successfully Clone Equine” – University of Idaho News Archive
• “Mule Clones Head for the Races” – University of Idaho News Archive
• “Mule cloned at UI outruns competition” – The Spokesman Review

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” – University of Idaho
• “The beloved chip: Univ of Idaho Extension part of trails to select varieties for making potato chips” – Potato News Today

3. University of Idaho 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! University of Idaho 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 University of Idaho 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:

• “University of Idaho celebrates 132nd anniversary as Gem State’s only land-grant university” – KTVB7

4. Alumnus is a Cofounder of SpaceX

Idaho Native and U of I alumnus Tom Mueller ’85 graduated from the University of Idaho 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.

5. Half of the first graduating class were women

The first graduating class from the University of Idaho 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 University of Idaho, earning a Master of Science in engineering.