To the editor:

You do not need to be a conservative Christian to know that human cloning is wrong. There are many “progressive” countries around the world that have recognized the disadvantages of cloning, among them are France, Canada, Australia and Norway.

In Kansas we do not need cloning. Don’t let the big biotech companies fool you or scare you with their fancy words and definitions that seem to always change meaning. Get the facts about Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. Find out how these companies and their lawyers define a fertilized egg, and find out how quickly that definition can change. Learn more about ADULT stem cell research (taken from umbilical cords of newborn babies) and learn why it is safer and more effective than embryonic stem cell research.

Saying no to cloning and embryonic stem cell research does not mean saying no to biotech industries, and it does not make you antiscience. States like Michigan have effectively outlawed cloning without jeopardizing their ability to attract strong biotech industries and prominent individuals to lead those programs. There are many ways to create good-paying jobs in the state of Kansas. Human cloning and embryonic stem cell research are not among the best choices.

John Rasmussen,

Lawrence