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Prosecutors have concluded that the disgraced cloning scientist Hwang
Woo-suk masterminded the fabrication of claims to have cloned human
stem cells and developed patient-tailored stem cells. But they said
Hwang was indeed deceived by a researcher, as he claimed, into
believing stem cells the researcher had created from in-vitro
fertilized embryos were cloned embryonic stem cells matching patients��
DNA. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors�� Office on Friday indicted
the scientist without arrest on charges of fraud, embezzlement and
breach of the bioethics law. He is suspected of embezzling and misusing
W2.8 billion (US$2.8 million) in research funds and illegally paying
for human eggs for use in research. The researcher, Kim Seon-jong of the MizMedi fertility clinic,
was indicted for tampering with research. Other collaborators - Prof.
Kang Sung-geun and Lee Byung-chun of Seoul National University and
Prof. Yoon Hyun-soo of Hanyang University - were also charged with
embezzling research funds. Prosecutors recommended disciplinary action
for another collaborator, Dr. Lee Yang-han of the National Institute of
Scientific Investigation. Prosecutors say they will take no separate action over the
fabrication of data in Hwang��s published research. ��There is no
precedent in the world where someone has been punished for fabricating
research results, and the matter should be left to academic
mechanisms,�� a prosecutor said. However, the fraud charge is based on
the fabrication of two papers published in the journal Science in 2004
and 2005 that netted Hwang massive research funds. Prosecutors dismissed claims by die-hard Hwang supporters that
Hwang collaborators Prof. Moon Shin-yong of SNU Medical College, the
head of MizMedi Hospital Roh Sung-il and Kim conspired to deceive
Hwang. Hwang made no public comment but was reportedly shocked by the
indictment since he had been convinced the probe would exonerate him
and planned to resume research. ([email protected] )
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