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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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