Cloning scientist discredited

2006-01-10 09:03

Seoul, South Korea - Disgraced researcher Hwang Woo-suk did create the world's first cloned dog, but he faked all of his landmark claims to have cloned human embryonic stem cells in a scam that deserves punishment, his university said on Tuesday.

The latest revelations doomed the South Korean veterinarian's reputation as a pioneer in the human cloning field, already tainted by the finding that his claim in 2005 to have efficiently developed 11 patient-specific stem cell lines was false.

Hwang "did not have any proof to show that cloned embryonic stem cells were ever created," an investigating panel at Seoul National University said, disputing claims in Hwang's 2004 paper in the journal Science purporting that he cloned a human embryo and extracted stem cells from it.

The panel found that Hwang's claims last year to have created the world's first cloned dog, however, were genuine.

Data fabricated

"The 2004 paper was written on fabricated data to show that the stem cells match the DNA of the provider although they didn't," the report said.

The reputation of Hwang has eroded steadily in recent months with increasing questions about his work.

Last month, a devastating report by the university concluded that Hwang fabricated another article published in Science last year. The university's nine-member investigative panel said it could not find any of the 11 stem cell lines matched to patients, as Hwang had reported in that research.

Hwang conceded in November that two subordinate scientists had donated eggs and other women were paid to take fertility drugs to produce eggs for research. Both practices are viewed as coercive and unethical in the West.

Penalty has to be severe

The university condemned his fabrications and suggested it would issue a punishment.

"This conduct cannot, but be seen as an act that fools the whole scientific community and the public," Tuesday's report said. "Just based on the facts of the fabrications that have been disclosed, the penalty has to be severe."

South Korean prosecutors are preparing their own investigation, which would include Hwang's allegation that other researchers in his lab maliciously switched some of his stem cells.

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

Research such as Hwang's is off-limits in many US labs because the government restricts federal money for human embryonic stem cell experiments.

As he rose to international fame amid his now-discredited scientific advances, Hwang became a national hero in South Korea.

He was designated the country's first-ever "top scientist" in June by the government, winning special funding. The foreign ministry assigned a diplomat to assist him with international contacts. Korean Air even gave Hwang and his wife free first-class flights for a decade, calling the scientist a "national treasure".

- AP