Michigan stem cell research proposal advances

7/7/2008

LANSING, Mich. A group that wants to loosen Michigan s restrictions on embryonic stem cell research has turned in voter signatures to state election officials in the hopes of making the November ballot.

The CureMichigan ballot campaign says it turned in more than 570,000 voter signatures Monday. More than 380,000 of them must be valid for the proposal to make the ballot.

The proposal would allow research on donated embryos created for fertility treatments that otherwise would be discarded. Supporters say embryonic stem cell research holds the potential to help cure or treat diseases such as Parkinson s and Alzheimer s.

A campaign organized to oppose the proposal says it s deceptive and would allow unregulated experimentation on human embryos.