Stem cell result a fraud, says panel

South Korea’s most famous scientist quit under a cloud on Friday and could face prosecution after investigators said results in a landm...

int(3)

South Korea’s most famous scientist quit under a cloud on Friday and could face prosecution after investigators said results in a landmark 2005 paper on producing tailored embryonic stem cells were intentionally fabricated.

A panel from Seoul National University has been examining the work of Hwang Woo-suk, hitherto regarded in South Korea as a hero for bringing the country to the forefront of stem-cell and cloning studies—and the world the first cloned dog.

His reputation lay ruined on Friday, and many in the country felt acutely embarrassed. The nine-member panel said in a statement the fabrication was “major misconduct that undermines the fundamentals of science”.

Story continues below this ad

It had launched the investigation after some of Hwang’s former collaborators said key findings in their paper were false. “Based on these findings, the data in 2005 was intentionally fabricated, not an accidental error,” said Roe Jung-hye, the chief of Seoul National University’s research office, at a televised news conference.

“It is difficult for Professor Hwang not to avoid taking major responsibility,” Roe said, adding that the scale of the researcher’s direct involvement was not yet clear. Hwang soon responded, but gave no immediate explanation.

“I am stepping down as a professor at Seoul National University to apologise for causing such big shocks and disappointment,” he said in brief televised comments. “But I’d like to repeat patient-tailored embryonic stem cells are South Korean technology. All of you will confirm it.”

Renowned in science circles for his stem-cell work, Hwang is best known to others for leading the team that created the world’s first cloned dog, an Afghan hound called Snuppy.

Story continues below this ad

“It is a heartbreaking turn for science and Korea. Without trust, we just cannot imagine science,” said Laurie Zoloth, a specialist in bioethics for Northwestern University, by telephone. “This is utterly unacceptable.”

Roe said the panel would now also investigate the dog cloning and a 2004 academic paper on cloning the first human embryos for research that has also fallen under suspicion. —Reuters