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The Seoul National University panel investigating research by disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk has asked independent institutes to analyze DNA fingerprints Hwang submitted with an article on cloning published in Science magazine in 2004. That brings another stage in the expanding probe of Hwang¡¯s published work close to completion. The panel started out by scrutinizing an article published this year on patient-specific stem cells Hwang claimed to have created.
The SNU panel said Tuesday it asked outside experts to analyze DNA fingerprints carried in the 2004 paper and could also ask for expert analysis on more DNA samples to be doubly sure of its conclusions.
The additional samples are blood samples of people who donated the somatic cells from which Hwang¡¯s 2004 paper claims he cloned embryos to make stem cells. The panel collected the blood from the donors after tracking them down with the help of the government.
In the 2004 paper, Hwang describes extracting stem cells from embryos cloned from somatic cells for the first time in the world. However, the authenticity of the work is in question since some stem cells pictured in the article appear to be the same as stem cells in photos illustrating a paper by researchers with the MizMedi Hospital in 2003. There are also allegations that the DNA fingerprints for Hwang¡¯s paper were fabricated.
The panel also confirmed reports that Kim Seon-jong, a former researcher in Hwang¡¯s team who later went to the University of Pittsburgh, has returned US$30,000 he was given last month by two core members of Hwang¡¯s team when they sought him out in the U.S.
During questioning on Sunday, Kim handed over the money explaining that Prof. Yoon Hyun-soo of Hanyang University and Prof. Ahn Cu-rie of SNU had given the money to his father.
Meanwhile, an SNU Hospital spokesman quoted Ahn as promising to accept any disciplinary measures over her involvement in fabricating research as a member of Hwang¡¯s team. Ahn has not appeared in public since evidence mounted that the results were faked.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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