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A Seoul National University panel scrutinizing the veracity of
embattled cloning expert Prof. Hwang Woo-suk¡¯s research is reportedly
in the final stage of its investigation after receiving DNA fingerprint
test results. The DNA results will determine the authenticity of
patient-specific stem cells Hwang claimed to have created and whether
Snuppy is really the world¡¯s first cloned dog. Now three independent
institutes including the National Institute of Scientific Investigation
have submitted DNA test results, there is a good chance the panel will
make its complete findings public early this week instead of Thursday,
as previously scheduled. According to sources close to the panel, the DNA tests were
conducted on nine stem cell lines; stem cell line no. 1 made in a
project published in the magazine Science in 2004; two stem cell lines
Hwang used as support data for an article in the Science in 2005 and
six stem cell lines he created since. Since they come in pairs -- one
stem cell in a frozen and one in a cultured state -- there are 18 cells
altogether. In addition, there are three kinds of teratoma tissue, 13
somatic cells from patients for comparison, and three somatic cells
from the dog. Massive anticipation is focused on the test results since they
are the last chance to refute claims from some insiders that no
patient-specific stem cells from cloned embryos existed, as the Science
article claims. Meanwhile, the panel questioned Kim Seon-jong, a former
researcher in Hwang¡¯s team, on Sunday morning, concluding its
interviews with key witnesses. Kim, who joined a medical team at the
University of Pittsburgh after leaving Hwang's team earlier this year,
returned home to face the investigation on Saturday night.
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Key witnesses in the Seoul National University probe into the veracity
of Prof. Hwang Woo-suk¡¯s patient-specific stem cell research. Clockwise
from left: the head of the MizMedi Hospital Roh Sung-il, Prof. Hwang,
researcher Kim Seon-jong, Hanyang University Prof. Yoon Hyun-soo, SNU
Profs. Ahn Cu-rie and Moon Shin-yong./Yonhap |
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Kim admitted that he manipulated photos of stem cell lines at Hwang¡¯s
instruction to make it look as though there were 11 separate lines
instead of two. But Kim denies swapping patient-tailored stem cells the
team made with ordinary stem cells stored at the MizMedi Hospital, as
Hwang has charged. The panel is considering confronting both Hwang and
Kim with Dr. Roh Sung-il, the head of MizMedi. Prosecutors are to summon Hwang over his charge around the
middle of this week once the SNU panel has announced its findings in
the matter of the patient-specific stem cells. Hwang earlier called for
prosecutors to investigate the alleged swap. The prosecution is also
considering an overseas travel ban on around a dozen key figures in the
scandal including Kim. They will finalize the list soon. (englishnews@chosun.com )
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