POLL: STEM CELLS YES; CLONES, NO
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BY MARTHA STODDARD --Lincoln Journal Star
    Fighting death and disease with gene therapy, stem cells or organ transplants from animals generally finds favor with Nebraskans. But most of those questioned in a recent statewide poll aren't crazy about cloning, no matter why it might be done.
   "I have a problem with cloning," said Don Freeman of York. "I think that's making some decisions we shouldn't make. I think that's getting way beyond our mission in life." Questions in the poll covered four main areas:

• Gene therapy - treating disease by replacing damaged or abnormal genes with normal ones - and the related topic of genetic testing.
• Stem cells - using the cells that create all human organs and tissues to grow new organs and tissues.
• Xenotransplants - transplanting organs and tissues from one species into another, in this case, from animals into humans, and the related topic of organ transplant priorities.
• Cloning - creating two or more life forms with identical genetic makeup.

    The Nebraskans polled generally support research on the first three topics but not on the last one. Yet for each topic, there are situations where the majority of respondents draw an ethical line.
    Overall, 72 percent of those surveyed said they approve or strongly approve of gene therapy. Fifty-nine percent said they approve or strongly approve of using state or federal funds for such work.
    But support drops by half for the idea of changing genes to improve intelligence or alter physical characteristics like height and weight.
    "Either way, you're kind of playing God," explained Christi Roschewski of Fremont. "But if it's just height and weight, that's playing God too much. That's not going to hurt them. There's no reason to alter something like that."
    Stem cell research won approval or strong approval from 63 percent of those questioned, and 51 percent favor state or federal funds for the work.
    Yet more than half disapprove or strongly disapprove of getting the cells from aborted fetuses or from embryos created in a laboratory. Those sources yield the most versatile stem cells but engender opposition from pro-life groups.
    "I'm a pro-life advocate," said Nadine Lind of Bellevue, "so I would have a hard time with all these tiny babies being used for research." A smaller majority - 55 percent - approve or strongly approve of transplanting organs from animals into humans. But fewer than half - 45 percent - favor using state or federal funds for the work.
    And when it comes to cloning, only 21 percent of those polled approve or strongly approve of the research and even fewer like the idea of using state or federal funds for it.
    Yet support doubles if the cloning is done to create new body parts rather than a whole new human being - a new heart to replace a diseased organ, for example, or a new arm for someone injured in an accident. "If it's just to grow a heart, that would make a difference," Freeman said. "We always have a waiting list."
    The strongest support for all four types of medical research comes from
people living in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses the Omaha metropolitan area. That district is home to two medical research facilities: the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University.
    The weakest is among residents of the 3rd Congressional District, which covers the western half of Nebraska, the survey showed.
    In addition, the poll found that people who identify themselves as pro-choice favor all four types of research more strongly than those who call themselves pro-life.
    Reach Martha Stoddard at 473-7245 or mstoddard@journalstar.com.