Correction: The last paragraph of this story was updated March 21, 2011 to reflect – verbatim - current MMA policy on stem cell research. The original story, posted March 17, paraphrased MMA policy and inadvertently omitted a key word in the policy. The MMA sincerely regrets the error.

[MMA News Now, March 17, 2011] The Minnesota Legislature is currently considering a piece of legislation that though designed to prevent human cloning could result in a ban of human embryonic stem cell research in Minnesota.

Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, toldMPR his bill,S.F.695/H.F. 998, titled the anti-cloning bill, is a preventative measure and a moral issue. Dettmer said his bill will not prohibit agriculture research dealing with the cloning of plants or animals.

"It just deals with human cloning, from the embryonic state," Dettmer said. "The research, maybe in other parts of the world, might be going on out there, but we just feel it's not for Minnesota."

However, the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center is opposing the bill saying that if it becomes law it would stifle stem cell research that has the potential to cure diseases and disorders. The health center is encouraging people to contact their lawmakers and ask them to support research by voting NO on the bill.

Current MMA Policy: The Minnesota Medical Association updates its position statement in favor of embryonic stem cell research by adopting the American Medical Association’s position so that the MMA: (1) supports biomedical research on multipotent stem cells (including adult and cord blood stem cells); (2) supports the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer technology in biomedical research (therapeutic cloning); (3) opposes the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer technology for the specific purpose of producing a human child (reproductive cloning); (4) encourages strong public support of federal funding for research involving human pluripotent stem cells; and (5) will continue to monitor developments in stem cell research and the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer technology. (CSA Rep. 5, A-03), and rescinds policy 240.121 (Stem Cell Research). HD-R405-2008.