Scientists in Liverpool, UK have completed groundbreaking gene-editing testing to create Sady, the first lamb to be genetically altered to have suuuuper low self-esteem.
Have geneticists gone too far in creating this adorable lamb who doesn’t really believe in herself?
“We spent years isolating the precise genetic sequence that gives someone the feeling that everybody totally hates them,” says Dr. Jeanette Lancaster, lead researcher on the project. “And then someone was like, why don’t we try it on a lamb and see what happens?”
Sady, who is now eight months old, appears to have a fragile sense of self and is known among the other lambs to be way too sensitive about stuff.
“She is really her own worst critic,” says Dr. Lancaster. “We keep telling her she’s pretty and really sweet, but it just doesn’t register.”
“She hates herself. That’s how we know this experiment was a success.”
While Sady has often been seen hiding away in her pen, at other times she will seem to throw herself at ram lambs in a desperate attempt for attention.
“It’s really sad to watch,” says Jonathan, a farmhand. “She really doesn’t believe that she deserves more out of life than this.”
“Wait, you’re telling me that someone did this on purpose?” added Jonathan. “Why the hell would someone do something like that to a poor lamb?”
We agree – somebody get this lamb a therapist and a good antidepressant!
“In the end, we’re learning so much about the chemical and neurological underpinnings to low self-esteem,” says Dr. Lancaster. “And we’re all seeing it play out beautifully as Sady further sinks into what we assume is a critical and abusive internal monologue.”
When asked if this new knowledge will be used to prevent or eliminate low self-esteem in humans, Dr. Lancaster paused.
“No, we really just wanted to see if we could fuck up a lamb. Sorry!
