Juniors donated own eggs for stem cell research: government

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2005

SEOUL, (AFP) — The South Korean government said that two junior researchers had given their own ova for research conducted by cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-Suk, but said there was no breach of ethical guidelines at the time.

Hwang was unaware of the donations at the time his team made international headlines in February 2004 when they announced the first-ever cloning of human embryos.

"The donators were neither forced nor solicited and the donations were not made commercially," said a spokesman for the Health and Social Affairs Ministry told a press conference.

The spokesman also confirmed that women who provided eggs had received money in return but insisted that the compensation was for expenses only and that Hwang knew nothing of the payments.

"Hwang...