South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) announced on Tuesday that it decided to formally register a human embryonic stem cell line developed by former Seoul National University Professor Hwang Woo-suk.
 
Hwang had applied several times since May 2010 for the registration of NT-1 which he said was developed through somatic cell nuclear transfer but the agency rejected the application every time.
 
Hwang again applied for the registration last month, this time, without mentioning the method of developing the cell, which led the state-run agency to register the NT-1.
 
The somatic cell nuclear transfer involves implanting a donor nucleus from a somatic cell in an enucleated immature egg cell.
 
Hwang had continuously claimed in the past that the NT-1 was developed through somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Some ten years ago, Hwang announced that he and his team succeeded in obtaining stem cells from cloned embryos. However, the professor was disgraced in a thesis fabrication scandal, bringing the nation’s stem cell research to a halt.