Scandal triggered about human cloning in SKorea

Science City (Ahmedabad), Dec 17: Celebrities and mass campaigns may sometimes fuel scientific awareness and temper among the masses but in South Korea a scandal involving scientists triggered awakening about human embryonic stem cell cloning among the masses.

South Korean top biologist Dr Hwang Su's ''fake claim'' of success in human embryonic stem cell cloning led to a scandal and the massive media publicity made the people aware of human cloning and its importance in curing inveterate disorders, said Prof S K Cho of US' Indiana University.

Dr Hwang claimed he had developed two cell lines of human clone from the primary cell with potential to develop into human organs in 2004-05. This he failed to substantiate during peer review resulting in his resignation and an inquiry into his research by a high-level ethics committee.

''Though public trust on the scientist and their engagement in science projects are essential for successful science communication, South Korean episode spurred interest of the masses in understanding the significance of cloning,'' he said talking to UNI here on the sidelines of the just-concluded five-day National Science Communication Congress-2006 on the theme of ''Public Understanding of Scientific Research''.

UNI