Disgraced South Korean cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk has fled to Thailand to escape controversy and continue his research, associates said yesterday.
Hwang and some 10 other researchers have been in Thailand for two months, focusing on research into the cloning of pet animals and the production of stemcells that could be used for cell treatment, they said.
The South Korean government banned Hwang from research using human eggs after his claims that he created the first human stem cells through cloning were ruled to be bogus last year.
Hwang was stripped of all government honors and funds, including his title of "Supreme Scientist," after Seoul National University concluded that his claims -- first made public in a 2004 science journal -- were fake.
"Dr. Hwang and his team moved into Thailand to continue with their study free from ethical controversy over their research here," said Park Se-pill, also a cloning scientist.
Hwang's former lawyer, Lee Geon-haeng, confirmed Hwang and his team had been in Thailand for the past two months.
Aside from the cloning of pets, Hwang's team has also been working on "trans-species" cloning in which, for example, human DNA are inserted into eggs of a cow to produce hybrid embryos.
From this embryos, stemcells could be produced for cell treatment to cure chronic and difficult diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes.
South Korea's law on bioethics prohibits the production of hybrid embryos amid continuing controversy over whether research into hybrid embryos should be permitted as well.
Hwang remains on trial for embezzlement and fake research but has insisted in court that he could still prove he created the first cloned human stem cells.
He claimed to have paved the way for treatment of incurable diseases by creating stem cells through cloning which would not be rejected when inserted into a patient's body.
But his successes could not be repeated by others, a key test for scientific method.
Hwang was indicted last May for fraud, embezzlement, ethical breaches and other charges.
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