Stem Cell Researcher Resigns

University Says His Fake Results Damaged Scientific Community

(AP) 
In light of the revelations, the panel said it would now also investigate Hwang's other landmark papers - which include another Science article in 2004 on the world's first cloned human embryos, and an August 2005 paper in the journal Nature on the first-ever cloned dog. The journals already are reviewing all the work.

However, he admitted last week to "fatal errors" in the May report and asked Science to withdraw the paper. He acknowledged that at the time of publication, his team had created only eight cell lines. But he said three more were created later.

Professor Alan Trounson, a top stem-cell researcher at Australia's Monash University, said the scandal showed scientists were rigorously checking each other's results. But he predicted the fallout would also stain any other scientists linked to Hwang's work. He also said the South Korean's claim to have cloned a dog was "very much in doubt now."

"I think a lot of the community were very impressed with the cloning of a dog - and it was a delightful dog - but I actually don't think it is a cloned dog now," Trounson told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

The panel said Friday that it found was no records of two of the other stem-cell lines Hwang claims to have created. Four others died from contamination, and another three were in the nurturing stage and hadn't yet become full stem-cell lines.

Hwang's article this year had also been viewed as significant for his efficiency in cloning the stem-cell lines, claiming to use just 185 human eggs to create custom-made embryonic stem cells for the 11 patients.

But Roe said the investigation had "found that there have been a lot more eggs used than were reported" and were investigating the exact number.

The university had said it was waiting to take action against Hwang until its investigation is complete, but Roe said: "It's hard for Professor Hwang to escape grave responsibility."

The government had stood by Hwang, a veterinarian, when he admitted last month to ethics violations for using eggs from female workers in his lab in research. On Friday, it said it would still support similar research despite the Hwang revelations.

"Despite the recent scandal, the government will continue supporting biotechnology research, including stem cells, so that hopes for stem-cell research by patients with incurable diseases and their families and the public are not in vain," the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

Hwang last month resigned as head of the World Stem Cell Hub - an international project founded in October that had planned to open centers in Britain and the United States - after admitting he used eggs from female workers at his lab in violation of ethics guidelines. Sung Sang-cheol, head of Seoul National University Hospital where the hub is located, said Friday the center would continue working but might be reorganized or renamed.