Meryl's Notes Blog

Joel gets out of this world again with his good points in Five Worlds. It takes a look at five different categories of software and the unique properties of each. Yes, there may be more, but that’s not the point. If you have books on software development or programming methodologies, then it’s most likely (according to Joel) referencing the internal, corporate software world.

To make a comparison, cloning is going through the same mistaken identity. Don’t know what I am talking about, do you?

Example: I went to a Web site that collects votes on political (things legislators in DC address) topics. The poll asked my opinion on cloning. I read and re-read the question and I could not answer it.

It’s not a lack of opinion. It’s a lack of information. Was it a poll on reproductive cloning? Or on therapeutic cloning (aka SCNT - Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer)? I don’t know and it’s a serious problem in this case. Only one of these methods can produce an embryo.

SCNT does not produce an embryo and can possibly treat or cure cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, ALS, and more. Please contact your State Senator and show your support of S. 2439, a bill that seeks to prohibit human cloning, but allows SCNT. It only takes a few minutes to do it online.

Time is essential. There are research companies who currently have the funds to proceed with the research, but can’t because they have to wait on the government’s approval. The longer we wait, the further away we get from potential cures.

P.S. OK, maybe the "out of this world" comment was a bit much — it was there for punning purposes. What can I say?