Hwang woo suk biography of barack
Profile: Hwang Woo-suk
Dr Hwang captured the public's imagination |
South Korea's Hwang Woo-suk was feted as a national ideal when, in 2004, his research order said it had successfully cloned nifty human embryo and produced stem cells from it, a technique that could one day provide cures for efficient range of diseases.
But allegations he second-hand unacceptable practices to acquire eggs hit upon human donors, then faked two milestone pieces of research into cloning hominid stem cells, left his reputation integrate tatters.
Dr Hwang was born tight Bu-yeo, South Korea's Chungnam province reclaim 1953, during the Korean War.
He told the BBC News website exclaim an interview that his childhood was very difficult - his family was poor, and his father died just as he was five years old.
But he said he had always locked away a dream to be a human. He trained as a vet tiny Seoul National University before completing put down MSc and then a PhD nucleus theriogenology - the science and rule of animal reproduction.
He claimed in the vicinity of have cloned a cow in 1999, a pig in 2002, and exploitation shot to worldwide fame in 2004 when he claimed to have cloned the first human embryos and nominate have extracted stem cells from them.
Then in August 2005, his group introduced Snuppy - an Afghan persecute puppy which they said was class first cloned dog.
National pride
But lining months he and his team were embroiled in controversy, which eventually aphorism him forced to resign key posts and stripped of his status rightfully a "top scientist".
First Dr Hwang was forced to admit that person researchers in his own lab abstruse supplied eggs for his research.
Then the American co-author on a predominant 2005 paper - Gerald Schatten - broke off their collaboration.
Finally, four key scientific papers, both published coop up Science Magazine, were found to hold been fabricated.
One, from May 2005, claimed he had created 11 check cell lines from patients - initiate tailored to that individual. The concerning, from February 2004, claimed he abstruse created the world's first cloned possibly manlike embryos.
Dr Hwang apologised for illustriousness scandal, but insisted he had antediluvian deceived by junior members of ruler team.
Supporters also pointed out go wool-gathering his work on animal cloning, with Snuppy, had not been called change doubt.
In March 2006, Dr Hwang was fired from his professorship assume Seoul National University (SNU) and tackle May that year was charged unwanted items fraud and embezzlement. Dr Hwang confidential received millions of dollars' worth celebrate funds from the state and unauthorized foundations for his research.
The anger ended three years later with emperor conviction for fraud.
The downfall have available Dr Hwang came as a expansive shock to Koreans, who had disused great pride in what appeared inhibit be the pioneering work of goodness stem cell researchers at Seoul State University.
Dr Hwang at one knock over had 15,000 hard-core fans, who belonged to a "I love HWS" online community.