ST. PAUL, MINN. (AP) _ OPPONENTS OF A BILL THAT WOULD
CRIMINALIZE HUMAN CLONING SAY IT WOULD HALT POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING
RESEARCH ON A WIDE RANGE OF ILLNESSES.
     MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE GATHERED IN A CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE STATE
OFFICE BUILDING IN ST. PAUL TO SAY WHY THEY OPPOSE THE BILL. THE
LEGISLATION WOULD SET MISDEMEANOR PENALTIES FOR ATTEMPTING,
PERFORMING OR AIDING IN CLONING BY COMBINING EMBRYONIC EGGS THAT
HAVE THE NUCLEUS REMOVED WITH OTHER HUMAN CELLS.
     ANN STRADER IS THE MOTHER OF TWIN BOYS WITH DIABETES. SHE SAYS
SOME PEOPLE MISTAKENLY CONFUSE THERAPEUTIC CLONING WITH
REPRODUCTIVE CLONING.
     SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL SAY IT WOULD STILL ALLOW RESEARCH THAT
DOESN’T RELY ON DESTRUCTION OF EMBRYOS.