S. Korean expert quits over clone fraud

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SEOUL, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The South Korean scientist whose research on stem cells and cloning won him international acclaim, Dr. Hwang Woo Su, has resigned in disgrace.

After admitting he had fabricated his groundbreaking paper in which he claimed to have created stem cell colonies from 11 patients, Seoul National University pledged to impose a heavy punishment on him, and said it was investigating his other claims, including his report of having cloned a dog and his announcement last year that he had achieved the first cloning of a human cell.

"I apologize to the South Korean people for creating an unspeakable shock and disappointment," Hwang said Friday.

However, the 53-year-old maintained that he had invented the technology needed to clone human embryos and to produce stem cells that genetically match patients, the New York Times said.

"Technology for patient-specific embryonic stem cells belongs to South Korea," Hwang said in his farewell. "And you will find out that this is true."