DISGRACED CLONING RESEARCHER CONVICTED

SOUTH KOREAN RESEARCHER CLONING SCIENTIST
HWANG WOO-SUK GUILTY OF EMBEZZLEMENT

SEOUL (AFP) - Disgraced South Korean cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk -- who gained fame in 2004 when he claimed to have cloned human embryonic stem cells -- was found guilty Monday of embezzling from his stem cell research fund and illegally buying human embryos. The Seoul court also ruled that Hwang, 56, who became a national hero after he claimed to be the first to successfully clone human stem cells, had partially fabricated the results of his research. He was given a two-year sentence that was suspended provided he stayed out of trouble with the law for the next three years. Hwang's surprising findings in his stem cell research drew him a cult-like following. Immediately after he disclosed the findings in 2004, many medical experts and patients hoped that the breakthrough might lead to cures for diseases such as cancer. The South Korean government had touted him as a national hero and announced plans to set up a committee to promote Hwang as a candidate for a Nobel prize.

Time magazine named him one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2004. But eventually his two published papers on the research were found to have been fabricated. As suddenly as he gained fame, he became embroiled in a national scandal. Hwang apologized publicly in January 2006 after a panel of scientists from Seoul National University found he had not derived human stem cells from eggs, as he claimed. He apologized but he continued his research despite revelations of fraud in his work. Hwang made a public apology and eventually was fired from his professorship at the university.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Acharyyavan puruso veda – the meaning of the Upanisads can be understood only by those who have their Guru. ... Only by approaching the Guru with a serving attitude will the meaning be revealed. ... Research scholarship in the illusory world is all quite a different approach. Scientific research is going from one misconception to another misconception. It is all misconception. It is error and has falsehood at the root. The research scholars try to research the nature and cause of everything, but ultimately it is all His sweet will. Neglecting that, they simply research, research, research, but if His will is withdrawn, everything will be falsified.

Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja:
"Focused to Sri Guru"
Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library - www.bvml.org/SBRSM