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Panel Affirms Scientist Faked Stem Cell Cloning Claim

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 18:00 CST

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEOUL, South Korea - The scientist who was once South Korea's leading researcher faked his claim to have cloned human embryonic stem cells, the university where he conducted his research said today.

Hwang Woo-suk's research team "did not have any proof to show that cloned embryonic stem cells were ever created," an investigating panel at Seoul National University said in a report, 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.

The university made the announcements as it released the final results into its investigation of Hwang's cloning research, which came into doubt late last year after accusations emerged that the research was fabricated.

The university concluded in its interim report last month that Hwang fabricated another article published 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.

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

Hwang has claimed that he has the technology to clone stem cells, and that he could reproduce his experiments.

Source: Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.

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