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 make it a felony to attempt, perform or aid 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.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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