Hwang Probe Must Leave no Stone Unturned Anger, Hurt Greet Finding That Hwang Faked Research DNA Results Take Hwang Probe to Final Stage Hwang Associates Gave Key Witness US$30,000 Hwang Probe Close to Wrapping Up 2004 Episode Fresh Success Claim Adds Confusion in Hwang Scandal Vatican Pitches Into Hwang Debate Patient-Specific Stem Cells Do Not Exist The Dashed Hopes of Patients Are the Real Scandal World Stem Cell Scientists Seek Strict Ethics Guidelines SNU President Apologizes for Hwang Fraud Hwang and Co-Authors Relieved of Duties Hwang, Adversaries Questioned in Criminal Probe Hwang Sacked as Probe Exonerates Team Members

Hwang made the announcement at SNU’s Veterinary College on Friday afternoon following a meeting with close colleagues in the morning. With weeping researchers and veterinary students looking on, he apologized for disappointing the public but insisted the technology to produce patient-specific embryonic stem cells belongs to Korea and vowed to prove it in the future.

Academics in the Veterinary College also apologized. In a statement after a meeting with Hwang, the scientists said a professor’s research manipulation and violation of ethics was intolerable no matter what the reasons and pledged to prevent a recurrence of the scandal.

Roe Jung-hye, head of Seoul National University's Research Affairs Office, announces the preliminary investigation findings concerning Professor Hwang Woo-suk's stem cell research paper published in Science Magazine, at the Seoul National University in Seoul on Friday. Hwang fabricated results of at least nine of 11 stem-cell lines he claims to have created intentionally, the university said.

Earlier, Roe Jung-hye, the head of SNU's Research Affairs Office, said analysis of data published in Science revealed that Hwang and his team deliberately inflated the number of stem cells they had from only two to 11. She said this had not been a simple mistake.

Hwang had partly admitted that he directly ordered the fabrication of research results, which was consistent with statements from his team members, Roe said. She said heavy disciplinary measures were inevitable.

Roe said it could not be confirmed if the remaining two patient-tailored stem cells are genuine until the results of DNA analysis come out. The panel also found that Hwang used up far more eggs to clone embryos than he claimed in the paper. Hwang said he used only 185 ova to produce stem cells.

The SNU panel plans to expand its investigation to all of Hwang’s past research work including a paper on cloning published in Science in 2004 and the world’s first cloned dog Snuppy. Answers in these two cases will be revealed early next week when DNA analysis results come out.

Presidential spokesman Kim Man-soo said Choeng Wa Dae would decide its position after the panel announces the final investigation results. It will then also decide whether Presidential Information and Science Secretary Park Ki-young should resign.

The Ministry of Science and Technology said it would take necessary steps in accordance with research management regulations, including a decision on funding for Hwang’s research. Prosecutors will launch an investigation into Hwang’s research manipulation and a swap of stem cells he claims occurred at the MizMedi Hospital as soon as the SNU panel announces its complete findings.

The Board of Audit and Inspection will consider an audit of government support for Hwang’s research at the same time, the BAI said. The Ministry of Health and Welfare also decided to investigate ethical lapses by Hwang and his team.

(englishnews@chosun.com )