S. Korean university to distribute puppies of world's first cloned dog

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Puppies born from the world's first cloned dog will be distributed to the public later this year, a South Korean university said Thursday.

Seoul National University (SNU) said the nine dogs were all fathered by Snuppy,
an Afghan Hound cloned by disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk in 2005.
The school said that researchers used artificial insemination methods to
impregnate two other cloned female Afghan Hounds called Bona and Hope to produce
the puppies that were born in May 2008. The impregnation was carried out to see
if reproductive systems of cloned dogs functioned normally.
"All the dogs are in very good health and are like other ordinary animals," said
veterinary professor Lee Byung-chun.
Lee was Hwang's associate in the creation of Snuppy and is also credited with
cloning the world's first wolves.
Hwang had received formal recognition for his achievement in cloning the world's
first dog, but was fired from SNU and is undergoing trial for fabricating data
related to his stem cell research studies that made international headlines in
2004 and 2005.
The school said applications will be received through its Internet homepage up
till Oct. 31, with officials to screen the prospective owners. The puppies --
three males and six females -- will be handed over to new owners free of charge
although they will be given surgery so they cannot breed.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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