S Korean scientist in trouble

2006-01-09 09:57

Seoul - South Korea readied for investigation results on Tuesday likely to touch on two remaining claims by disgraced researcher Hwang Wee-suk: that he was the first to clone human embryonic stem cells and that he cloned a dog.

Seoul National University planned to announce final results of its investigation into Hwang's research breakthroughs, including the 2004 paper in the journal Science that shot him to international fame with claims of creating the world's first cloned human embryo.

The school concluded in its interim report last month that he fabricated another article published in Science last year dealing a devastating blow to his reputation as a cloning pioneer. The university's nine-member investigative panel said it couldn't find any of the 11 stem cell lines matched to patients as Hwang had reported.

Hwang, a professor of veterinary medicine, said after the interim results were released that he would resign from the school, but has yet to tender his resignation.

South Korea prepares own investigation

South Korean prosecutors are also preparing their own investigation, which would include Hwang's allegation that other researchers in his lab maliciously switched some of his stem cells. Hwang has claimed that he has the technology to clone stem cells and that given the chance he can reproduce his experiments.

Hwang, who has received massive government funding for his research, may also face charges of misappropriation of funds, South Korean media have reported.

Hwang made global headlines in 2004 for announcing that he created the world's first cloned human embryo and extracted stem cells from it. Scientists hail stem cells as a potential source of replacement tissue, holding the hope of possible treatments for a variety of ailments like Alzheimer's disease and diabetes.

The Kyeongin Ilbo, a daily newspaper reported on Monday that Hwang said in an interview that the 2004 stem cells were also fake. Seoul National University said it couldn't comment on the report before announcing its results.

The university is also set to determine the authenticity of Hwang's claim to have cloned Snuppy, an Afghan hound he claimed in August was the world's first cloned dog, and also how he obtained human eggs used for his studies.

In November, Hwang publicly admitted that he used eggs from two junior scientists on his team. He said then he didn't find out about the donations until later, but allegations have since risen that Hwang may have coerced the researchers to make the donations.

Hwang also acknowledged that some of the eggs used in his lab were bought, unlike earlier claims that they were all donated voluntarily.

- AP