In 1997, scientists efficiently cloned a sheep and named the animal Dolly after nation legend Dolly Parton — for a really particular motive.
The “Jolene” singer, 78, spoke to The Guardian for a brand new interview on Oct. 31 about her ideas on sharing a namesake with Dolly the Sheep — whose moniker is a reference to Parton’s breasts — and whether or not she’d like to go away a reproduction model of herself behind when she’s gone.
“I used to be flattered,” she instructed the outlet of studying Dolly was named after her, earlier than explaining: “You realize, when the scientists cloned Dolly the sheep, they used the mammary glands. That’s what they name them … glands … the boobs.”
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Parton added, “They mentioned: ‘Oh, we’ve this sheep, Dolly …’ All people at all times performed as much as these [points to her chest], in order that’s why we had Dolly the sheep.”
The sheep lived for six years and birthed six lambs earlier than creating well being points and finally dying Feb. 14, 2003, in keeping with Historical past. Her taxidermied physique stays on show on the National Museum of Scotland.
“I used to be sorry when she died,” Parton instructed The Guardian, “although I don’t need be cloned myself.”
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The Grammy winner continued, “I wish to get on out of right here once I can. We already get a variety of Dolly lookalikes, a variety of Dolly drag queens. I can simply ship them all the way down to the shop as an alternative of me.”
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Elsewhere within the interview, Parton spoke about the way forward for her profession and why she “cannot retire.”
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“I at all times say I’ve dreamed myself right into a nook. I’ve acquired to maintain all these goals alive. Each dream spins off into some one thing else,” mentioned the “Right here You Come Once more” performer.
Parton then spoke about “misinformation” surrounding her previous feedback about now not touring: “I nonetheless do exhibits – I simply don’t go on the full-blown excursions the place I’m going abroad for weeks. I’m older, my husband’s older, and I wish to be with him extra. So, no. I couldn’t retire if I needed to. And I don’t wish to.”
