The 2005 Seoul Bio/Medi Symposium opened Tuesday in the capital city with numerous world-renowned scholars in attendance.

The symposium will showcase the work of stem cell pioneer Hwang Woo-suk, his research partner professor Ahn Gyu-ri, University of Pittsburgh professor Gerald Schatten and the world's first scientist to clone a sheep, Ian Wilmut.

In a lecture at the symposium, Professor Schatten said the world should focus on Korea's efforts to lay a scientific ground for human embryonic research. Meanwhile, Professor Ahn outlined the current status of stem cell research, focusing on nucleic transfers tailored to patients’ individual characteristics.