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Prof. Hwang Woo-suk on Thursday admitted he knew that two junior researchers donated egg cells for a stem cell project two years ago and resigned from all official positions including his chairmanship of the new World Stem Cell Hub.
"Even though it's not much, I have arrived at this course of action with the intention of making amends to the Korean people," the cloning pioneer told reporters at Seoul National University. ¡°The responsibility for the entire controversy and its repercussions is mine, and I will not try to excuse myself in any way.¡±
He said the scandal tempted him to give up research altogether and return to a normal life. ¡°But to repay, even in a small way, the support people have shown me and the hopes of patients living with incurable diseases, I will continue to walk solely the path of pure research.¡±
But Hwang added no country other than Korea succeeded in producing stem cells that genetically match chronically ill patients. He urged the country to continue its support so stem cell research can advance.
Meanwhile, the Institutional Review Board of SNU¡¯s School of Veterinary Science has found no legal or ethical violations in occyte procurement for Hwang¡¯s projects, which were conducted before a bioethics law came into effect this year, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
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Cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-suk speaks at a news conference in Seoul on Thursday. Hwang apologized for ethical lapses and admitted he knew that two junior researchers in his lab donated their own eggs for research.
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Hwang¡¯s announcement came the same day he was honored as a researcher of the year in the December edition of the Scientific American monthly. The science magazine chose 50 top achievers in science and technology work. It said it selected Hwang as one of three winners, honoring him for cloning the world¡¯s first tailored stem cells and the first cloned dog Snuppy.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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