South Korean scientists that have been credited with helping to produce the world's first cloned dog say that they have cloned three more puppies of the same species, reports said yesterday.
Lee Byung-chun, a former colleague of disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk, has successfully cloned three more dogs of the Afghan Hound species using the same technique that helped him produce the first clone, Yonhap news agency reported.
FIRST DOG SUCCESS
Lee, who is a professor of veterinary science at Seoul National University, played a key role in carrying out the world's first successful cloning of a dog when he produced a duplicate from the DNA of a 3-year-old Afghan Hound.
Experts said that the copycat canine, known as Snuppy, was genetically identical to his "father."
ON THIN ICE
But Lee was later deprived of his right to teach students at the university for five months for his part in fabricated papers that were produced by Hwang at that time.
Lee's team cloned the three female puppies in June and July, Yonhap said.
He first cloned fertilized eggs by injecting oocytes, or reproductive germ cells, from a female Afghan Hound into procured ovums, it said.
Yonhap reported that the cloned puppies were genetically identical to the cell donor.
NOBLE USES
Lee plans to utilize this latest breakthrough in order to produce cell treatment drugs.
He also hopes to apply the technology in preserving animal species that are on the verge of extinction, Yonhap said.
"There needs to be a consistent investment in the field, as canine cloning studies are nearing a practical level with a higher success rate," he was quoted as saying.
Lee has led his own research team since Hwang was indicted in May for fraud, embezzlement, ethical breaches of conduct and other charges.
Hwang was once hailed as a national hero.
A university inquiry, however, ruled that his work was actually forged, and he is now on trial for charges of embezzlement and faking research.
STEM CELL RESEARCH
Hwang has repeatedly insisted that he could still be able to prove that he was the first scientist to successfully clone human stem cells.
The government has banned Hwang from all research involving using human eggs.
Hwang claimed that he created the first human stem cells through cloning, but his research results were ruled to be bogus in January.
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