Prof. Hwang Woo-Suk

Prof. Hwang was found to have secured no stem cells for his research by a Seoul National University investigation panel.

In a conference held on Dec. 28, 2005, the panel announced that the five stem cells Prof. Hwang allegedly froze and unfroze did not match with the cells of the patients who provided nuclei in a DNA test.

The special panel, comprising a group of SNU scientists and other specialists, has been investigating Prof. Hwang's research case since he was accused of data fabrication.

The panel also found that the two stem cells Prof. Hwang used for his 2005 research paper for Science were not patient-tailored stem cells.

In the research paper Prof. Hwang fabricated 11 stem cells out of only two stem cells.

The investigation panel are divided over Prof. Hwang's claim that he has the skill to produce patient-tailored stem cells. In an earlier press conference on Dec. 16, 2005, Prof. Hwang announced that he has the skills to produce stem cells.

"If the five frozen stem cells were unfrozen, the existence of the stem cells would be confirmed within 10 days, " Prof. Hwang said in the conference.

A few members of the panel said that Prof. Hwang's skills to make "basic" stem cells should be recognized.

The world's first cloned dog "SNUPPY" will also be under scrutiny, according to the panel. The name SNUPPY is a combination of SNU (Seoul National University) and puppy.

Prof. Hwang surprised the world by cloning an Afghan Hound puppy in April, 2005.

But, his cloned dog and other previous research performances are under suspicion after he was revealed as one of the biggest liars in the recent
scientific history.