Do not photocopy this editorial. If you do, do not claim you cloned it. Photocopying is not the same as cloning. If you do claim you have cloned it when truly you have not, do not announce to the world you are the first to clone an editorial, agree to DNA testing, say there are many more clones on the way, then back out of the spotlight once enough attention has shifted to the bizarre religious movement to which your cloning firm is attached.

Those are just some basic lessons. There are some more, but truly, there is not enough ink to express the bizarre Raelians, the claims of Clonaid and the tactics employed to announce what some claim is the first instance of cloning humans.

When Brigitte Boisselier, the CEO of Clonaid, made the announcement Dec. 27 that her company had cloned “Eve” a human birthed by the woman of whom she was a clone, she should have been prepared for scolding and skepticism. She didn’t seem to be, later telling CNN she didn’t understand why people were saying mean things about her after Clonaid opted against letting an independent team perform DNA testing to verify the claims of cloning.

The Raelians, formed in 1973, believe the Hebrew phrase Elohim, which is generally translated to mean God, truly should be interpreted as non-Earthlings “from the sky.” These are the beings Raelians claim created life on Earth. Rael, the Raelian leader, criticized the skeptics for not focusing on the miraculous nature of it all or that the baby was healthy.

The scolding came from many — the Vatican, the U.S. Congress, scientists (actual scientists) and editorials like this one. That Clonaid, or the Raelians, are feigning surprise at the public’s disgust is despicable and disappointing.

Press conferences are designed to provide information to the press, which in turn will provide information to the public. Boisselier’s announcement and complete lack of follow-up (once the immediate hype was quickly diverted to the Raelians) was a ridiculous move based upon nothing more than the same wacky theories that fuel the Raelians.

Just as the Raelians believe that aliens enjoy watching humans experiment in sensuality, it seems that Clonaid believes the world enjoys watching humans experiment in how long it can prolong media attention.

Stop the nonsense, stop the media circus and admit there were no clones, at least by the rest of the world’s standards.

Editorial Board:Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Ayrel Clark, Charlie Weaver