South Korea To Lift Ban On Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 01 Oct 2007 - 9:00 PST

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The South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare on Thursday announced it will allow scientists to conduct research on creating embryonic stem cells by cloning human embryos, the AP/West Australian reports (AP/West Australian, 9/27). Human embryonic stem cell research was banned last year after Hwang Woo Suk and colleagues from Seoul National University published fraudulent claims that they had created genetically matched embryonic stem cell lines.

Hwang and his team in 2005 published two scientific papers in the journal Science that said they had used the somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning technique to create 11 embryonic stem cell lines that are genetic matches to patients ranging in age from two to 56. Both studies were found to be fabrications, and Science formally retracted the papers in January 2006.

The South Korean National Bioethics Committee in March voted to remove the ban on human embryonic stem cell cloning research and conditionally allow the research, Cho Han-Ik, deputy head of the committee, said. Twelve of the committee members, including government representatives and scientists, voted to lift the ban. The remaining seven members -- including law experts, a Catholic priest and a women's rights advocate -- objected or abstained from the vote (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/26).

According to the health ministry, scientists will be permitted to conduct research using eggs discarded after fertility treatments or other lawful uses. In addition, scientists seeking to conduct stem cell research will be required to obtain a license from the government. The health ministry in a statement said the new policy "is expected to secure ethics and safety of bioscience research." Hwang is continuing his research in Thailand to avoid ethical disputes in South Korea, according to another scientist, the AP/West Australian reports (AP/West Australian, 9/27).

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