SEOUL, March 2 (UPI) -- Disgraced stem-cell expert Hwang Woo-suk and three of his associates were reportedly questioned Thursday concerning research fraud.
Investigations started after Seoul National University concluded two of Hwang's most celebrated studies about cloned human stem cells were fraudulent, the Korea Times reported Thursday. The research was published in the U.S. journal Science.
Being questioned with Hwang were Mizmedi Hospital researcher Kim Sun-jong, who co-wrote one of the papers; Hanyang University professor Yoon Hyun-soo, also a co-author; and Lee Yang-han, an official at the state-run National Institute of Scientific Investigation who conducted the DNA test for the stem-cell samples.
Prosecutors, who told the Korea Times they summoned all four people on the same day to prevent them from manipulating their testimony, are also investigating whether Hwang collaborated with University of Pittsburgh Professor Gerald Schatten on the research data fabrication.
