Updated Mar.2,2006 19:23 KST

Hwang, Adversaries Questioned in Criminal Probe

Panel Finds Hwang Deliberately Fabricated Results
Hwang Probe Must Leave no Stone Unturned
Anger, Hurt Greet Finding That Hwang Faked Research
DNA Results Take Hwang Probe to Final Stage
Hwang Associates Gave Key Witness US$30,000
Hwang Probe Close to Wrapping Up 2004 Episode
Fresh Success Claim Adds Confusion in Hwang Scandal
Vatican Pitches Into Hwang Debate
Patient-Specific Stem Cells Do Not Exist
The Dashed Hopes of Patients Are the Real Scandal
World Stem Cell Scientists Seek Strict Ethics Guidelines
SNU President Apologizes for Hwang Fraud
Hwang and Co-Authors Relieved of Duties
Hwang Sacked as Probe Exonerates Team Members
The disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk and three suspected co-conspirators were grilled by prosecutors on Thursday about their role in faking headline-grabbing stem cell research results. The others were Kim Sun-jong, a former researcher at the MizMedi Hospital, Prof. Yoon Hyun-soo of Hanyang University and Lee Yang-han, an official at the state-run National Institute of Scientific Investigation.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors�� Office questioned Hwang to discover whether he knew that DNA test results of stem cell no. 1 documented in a 2004 paper were fabricated and whether he himself was involved. The stem cell, labeled NT-1, was used as evidence in the discredited paper published in the U.S. journal Science that Hwang and his team succeeded in growing stem cells from cloned embryos. Prosecutors said they also wanted to know if Hwang was aware that embryonic stem cells nos. 2 and 3 documented in another fraudulent paper published the following year were in fact fertilized stem cells left over at the MizMedi fertility clinic.

In questioning Kim Sun-jong, prosecutors focused on Hwang��s allegations that Kim swapped stem cells from cloned embryos Hwang claims to have made with the MizMedi cells. They reportedly have evidence that Kim had a key role in fabricating data.

Yoon Hyun-soo and Lee Yang-han were grilled over their part in manipulating the DNA test results for the 2004 paper.

Disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk reports to the Seoul Central Prosecutor��s Office to be questioned on Thursday morning.

The four presented themselves at the prosecutor��s office from 8:00 a.m. in 20-minute intervals. Hwang briefly greeted reporters before facing his interrogators.

Prosecutors will reportedly announce interim investigation results next week.

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