Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) - An investigation shows the team led by South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk faked two landmark papers on embryonic stem cells but did produce the world's first cloned dog.

The panel at Seoul National University (SNU) says data has been deliberately fabricated in the papers. The two papers are a 2004 report on producing the first cloned human embryos for research and a 2005 paper on producing the first embryonic tailored stem cells.

"Hwang's team did not have the data for the stem cell lines in the 2004 paper, but fabricated it," Chung Myung-hee, the head of the panel, said.

The 2005 paper caused a sensation because the findings raised hopes that embryonic stem cells could one day be used to create genetically specific tissue to treat ailments such as severe spinal cord injuries and Parkinson's disease.

"We concluded that Professor Hwang's team did not have patient-specific stem cell lines and did not have any scientific basis that the team made them," the panel said. The panel says DNA analysis proves a 2005 claim that the team had produced the world's first cloned dog, an Afghan hound named Snuppy. Snuppy is short for 'Seoul National University puppy'.

Medical researchers say the episode, which has shocked and shamed many South Koreans, is one of the biggest cases of scientific fraud in recent history. Prosecutors say they will launch a criminal investigation. "We will take over relevant evidence from the Seoul National University and decide on who will take up this case," Park Young-Soo, a top prosecutor, said.

Prosecution authorities have already imposed a ban on overseas trips by Dr Hwang and 10 others associated with his research.

The investigation is expected to focus on Dr Hwang's huge research funds and any evidence of misuse or embezzlement. It is also expected to consider whether Dr Hwang breached a law on bioengineering ethics in the course of securing human eggs for experiments.