In your Nov. 27 editorial on the public examination of human cloning ability, you stated that recent breakthroughs in human cloning research should be closely examined.

Although I agree that such practices should be regulated, I disagree on an expansive ban of further research.

All that the scientists at Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) were striving for were human stem cells, the cells that could potentially cure diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and heart disease. The embryos used never grew beyond six cells and only lasted hours, a failure in the scientific community.

ACT had no intention of actually cloning a human, but the protest that was sparked by this could hinder further research for treatment to injury or disease.

The possibility does exist that someone could unethically create a cloned human being, but banning any research would hurt ethical scientists striving for cures. What is needed is freedom to continue research on the possibility of stem cells. There should also be a pledge from the scientific and political communities to make it hard for would be cloners to succeed.

Instead of blindly fighting such progress, we need to try to create restrictions and regulations, leaving room for needed research.