IN February 2004 news broke that South Korean researchers led by Dr. Hwang Won-Suk had derived the first human Embryonic Stem Cell by way of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. The results were published in the journal "Science." Hwang published a further article on this research in Science in 2005 in which he detailed how he had created 11 new lines through Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. Hwang became world famous and was hailed as one of South Korea's greatest scientists. However, in late 2005 the following truths came to light regarding Dr. Hwang's research.
• Not all the eggs used in the research came from women outside of the lab. Some were donated from lab technicians, at least some of whom were graduate students. Accepting donated eggs from lab employees is frowned upon by research ethicists because of the potential of coercion.
• When allegations regarding the actual source of the eggs emerged, Hwang claimed he had no idea that this had happened. But a graduate student who donated eggs later claimed that Hwang himself had accompanied her when she went to have the eggs removed.
• One researcher claimed that she was "forced" by Hwang to donate eggs after accidentally spilling ova in the laboratory.
• Even more devastating was the committee's finding that Hwang's claim to have created Embryonic Stem Cells from Somatic Nuclear Cell Transfer was also fabricated. The panel found no evidence at all that the Embryonic Stem Cells created by Hwang were cloned.
• Hwang's lab had also claimed to have used Somatic Nuclear Cell Transfer for reproductive dog cloning which resulted in the creation of "Snuppy", the world's first cloned dog. Surprisingly, this claim was actually true.
Science has unconditionally retracted both of Hwang's articles. Prosecutors in Korea are preparing to charge Hwang and nine colleagues with fraud. He has since apologized and resigned from his position but he has also blamed the fraud on junior researches in his lab.
