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Two scientists who closely
worked with disgraced cloning expert Hwang Woo-suk on Wednesday
suggested Hwang has in fact made considerable advances in cloning
somatic cells and stem cell technology, lending support to Hwang��s
insistence that source technology for cloning patient-specific stem
cells exists. Dr. Kim Min-kyu, a Seoul National University veterinarian
who was on the team that created what may be the world��s first dog
cloned from adult somatic cells, said both cloning of the dog and of
embryos required the same technique substituting the nucleus of an egg
with that of a somatic cell. Kim also said embryonic stem cells from
dogs have survived in the lab for 60 weeks.
Prof. Yoon Hyun-soo of Hanyang University, another collaborator,
said it was he who selected the frozen stem cells an investigative
panel at SNU wanted to thaw and subject to DNA tests. In contrast to an
earlier batch of stem cells Hwang claims were switched with stem cells
from normally fertilized embryos, these stem cells were unlikely to
have been switched since they were frozen at an early stage, Yoon said.
He added they were around 10 weeks old. Since these new claims only add to confusion over Hwang��s
scientific achievement, the SNU panel decided to hold an emergency
press conference on Thursday to clarify what suspicions are being
investigated. The panel says it will offer a detailed briefing on how the
probe has progressed since its explosive interim report last week, when
it revealed that Hwang fabricated results in a paper on
patient-specific stem cells. The panel said it will answer whether
Hwang��s stem cells genetically match patients�� somatic cells, and how a
sum of US$50,000 that has been subject to speculation was used. It will
also brief reporters on progress of its investigation into the veracity
of a 2004 article by Hwang on cloning somatic cells and of the cloning
of the dog Snuppy. It will also clarify why it postponed the
announcement of its final report until next month. One hitch in the investigation was that the panel commissioned
additional DNA testing on Snuppy. It first entrusted the test to a
human DNA testing institute, but differences in technique made it
advisable to send the dog��s blood samples to one specializing in
animals, it said. Meanwhile, Yoon on Wednesday also dismissed rumors that Kim
Seon-jong, a former Hwang team member now working at the University of
Pittsburgh, attempted suicide after telling TV reporters he fabricated
research results at Hwang��s behest. Yoon confirmed reports that he gave
Kim $20,000 during a recent visit to the U.S. but denied the money was
intended as a sweetener. Rather, it was a contribution to Kim��s
hospital expenses after he was admitted for stress, Yoon said. He also
confirmed that core team member Prof. Ahn Cu-rie of SNU gave Kim
another 10,000. Meanwhile, customs caught Kim with the money when he
recently returned to Korea. By law, sums over $10,000 brought into the
country must be declared.
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