Cloned wolves report is questioned

SEOUL, April 12 (UPI) -- Seoul National University has announced an investigation into claims by South Korean scientists that they have created the world's first cloned wolves.

According to a study released March 26, two gray wolf clones were created by a university team led by veterinarian Byeong-chun Lee, National Geographic News reported. The report noted that disgraced stem-cell researcher Woo Suk Hwang is listed as one of the study's authors.

University officials said blood and cell samples taken from the two female wolves had been sent to an independent agency for analysis after it was suspected the scientific team used erroneous data.

Lee had previously collaborated with Hwang, who was found last year to have fabricated key stem cell research, including claims to have cloned the first human embryo.

National Geographic News said officials launched the current investigation after learning of errors in the wolf-clone report, including incorrect details in a table analyzing the wolves' DNA.

The journal that published the study, Cloning and Stem Cells, removed the research paper from its Web site Wednesday and told National Geographic News it was awaiting the outcome of the investigation.