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Seoul National University on Friday appointed a nine-member panel
tasked with scrutinizing the results of stem cell research by embattled
cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-suk. Chung Myung-hee, a medical professor and
former SNU vice president, will head the panel. Roe Jung-hye, the head of the school��s Research Affairs Office,
told reporters the panel consists of seven SNU faculty members and two
outside experts. Of the seven insiders, six come from the molecular and
cellular biology departments, and one from the humanities. A DNA
molecular biologist and an embryonic stem cell expert were brought in
from outside at the recommendation of the Korean Society for Molecular
and Cellular Biology. SNU is keeping their names confidential. Roe said investigation results could come out in one or two
weeks if Hwang��s team willingly hands over all research materials. The
panel will conduct a preliminary investigation through written
questionnaires and interviews, and then move on to the main inquiry.
However, the order and schedule of the investigation may change as
MizMedi Hospital administrator Roh Sung-il, a co-researcher of Hwang,
has raised doubts whether stem cells Hwang claims to have cloned exist
at all. Roe hinted at the possibility of cooperation with a similar
fact-finding panel at the University of Pittsburgh, where Hwang��s
former collaborator Prof. Gerald Schatten is tenured. He quoted the
journal Science as saying cooperation with Pittsburgh was crucial.
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