Scientists Clone, Bureaucrats Clown

After six years of deliberation, in January 2008, the Food and Drug Administration finally—and rightly—concluded that food from cloned animals is safe and may be sold and consumed. This decision was based on voluminous and incontrovertible scientific data. But two things took the luster off the announcement.

First, it was far too long in coming. Scientists have known for years that the clones are indistinguishable genetically, biochemically, and nutritionally from the parent.

Second, on the very d…