CLONING: A MATTER OF MOCKINGBIRDS AND CRABGRASS

Nearly everyone has an opinion about cloning, so here's ours in a nutshell: If it looks like the world is ever going to run out of sheep, perhaps we ought to permit scientific duplicates.

Or if the sweet song of a mockingbird can be replicated into the vocal cords of an operatic soprano, have at it. Or if the determined grit of crabgrass can be sold over the counter in daily doses, OK by us.

Otherwise, the course of nature is best left in the hands of the creator of us all, who seems to have a much clearer vision of where the universe is headed -- and ought to go.