Cloned dog claim by disgraced scientist genuine

South Korea’s disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk faked his landmark 2004 claim to have cloned human embryonic stem cells, but did create the world’s first cloned dog, Seoul National University said today.

Hwang’s research team at the university “did not have any proof to show that cloned embryonic stem cells were ever created”, a nine-member investigatory panel said in a much-anticipated report.

Hwang claimed in the 2004 paper published in the journal Science that he had created human embryonic stem cells, stunning the scientific community and raising hopes that treatments could be created for afflictions such as Alzheimer’s and paralysis.

“The 2004 paper was written on fabricated data to show that the stem cells match the DNA of the provider although they didn’t,” the report said.

The university made the announcements as it released final results into its investigation of Hwang’s cloning work, which came into doubt late this year after accusations emerged that his research was fabricated.

The university concluded in its interim report last month that Hwang fabricated another article published in Science last year. The panel said it could not find any of the 11 stem cell lines that were purportedly matched to patients, as Hwang had reported.

However, the university today upheld as genuine Hwang’s claim to have cloned Snuppy, an Afghan hound he said in August was the world’s first cloned dog.

Hwang has not made any public appearances since saying he would resign his faculty position last month, and has been unreachable after changing his mobile phone number. His whereabouts are unknown.

Hwang said earlier that – despite any scandal over faked results – he had the technology to clone stem cells.

The university condemned his fabrications and suggested it would issue a punishment.

“This conduct cannot but be seen as an act that fools the whole scientific community and the public,” it said. “Just based on the facts of the fabrications that have been disclosed, the penalty has to be severe.”

South Korean prosecutors also are readying their own investigation, which would include Hwang’s allegation that other researchers in his lab maliciously switched some of his stem cells. The university did not address Hwang’s claim about the alleged switch and it was not immediately clear what action, if any, prosecutors planned.

South Korean media have said Hwang, who received massive government funding for his research, may also face charges of misappropriation of funds.