Clones can combat mad-cow disease

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- South Korean researchers announced Wednesday they have genetically modifed cows and pigs to be resistant to diseases.

Hwang Woo-suk and his 120-member research team unveiled genetically modified calves designed to resist mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, as well as gnotobiotic piglets that could possibly be used for human organ transplants.

Hwang gained prominence in the field of biotechnology thanks to previous research with cows. In 1999, he cloned a pair of cows named "Young-long" and "Jean-ie," becoming the first scientist in South Korea and the fifth in the world to clone animals.