OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed legislation making it a crime to destroy an embryo during stem cell research.

The bill passed 86-8 Thursday and now heads to the Senate.

The measure by Rep. George Faught of Muskogee makes it a misdemeanor crime to conduct destructive research on a human embryo or to sell, receive or transfer a human embryo knowing it would be subject to destructive research.

Lawmakers who support the bill say they are protecting the lives of unborn children. Many of the representatives who spoke in favor in the bill said they do support adult stem cell research.

Opponents of the bill said it closes the door to research that could potentially lead to cures for a variety of diseases.