Korean team unveils first cloned wolves*

By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Last Updated: 2:27am BST 27/03/2007

The first cloned wolves were announced yesterday by a former
collaborator of the disgraced South Korean scientist Dr Hwang Woo-Suk,
as part of an effort to restock endangered populations.

Two wolves, Snuwolf (Seoul National University wolf) and Snuwolffy, were
unveiled by Dr Lee Byeong-Chun, a veterinary professor at Seoul National
University.

Snuwolf, one of the world’s first cloned wolves, the first cloned wolves
were announced yesterday by Dr Lee Byeong-Chun, a veterinary professor
at Seoul National University
Snuwolf, one of the world’s first cloned wolves

Both are healthy and now weigh about 45lb. They have been moved to a
zoological garden, for public viewing

Although the clones were born on Oct 2005, Prof Lee said it took the
team a while to publish its findings in a journal because of the extra
scrutiny after being implicated in a scientific fraud. Among other
tests, they underwent DNA checks involving the surrogate parents.

The team was originally led by Dr Hwang, once a national hero for
bringing South Korea to the forefront in stem cell studies. But he has
been on trial for embezzlement, fraud and violating bioethics law.

However, the team's cloned dog Snuppy, an Afghan hound first described
in scientific literature in August 2005, was confirmed sound and Dr
Hwang remains popular. Almost 2,000 supporters took to the streets on
Sunday, urging the government to allow him to go back to the lab.

Prof Lee said the journal Cloning and Stem Cells will publish the wolf
work this month, with Dr Hwang as co-author. The university did not
immediately provide any independent verification of the DNA tests.

Wolves and dogs are difficult to clone because of their reproductive cycle.

A British cloning expert said: "I would imagine that anyone publishing
cloning work by these guys will absolutely require unrefutable proof
that they have successfully cloned so, yes, I would believe the story is
true although it would be nice to see the actual manuscript accepted for
publication."

South Korea's National Bioethics Committee has just recommended that the
government should allow some research on human embryonic stem cells.