A leading American researcher on stem cells says South Korea is the world's leading country for biotechnology.

University of Pittsburgh professor Gerald Schatten also said in the Seoul Bio/Medi Symposium Tuesday that cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-suk's work points to the nation's bright future in biotechnology.

Schatten said Hwang's research will prove useful in treating genetic diseases such as pediatric diabetes, spastic paralysis and cardiac ailments.

Ian Wilmut, the creator of the world's first cloned sheep "Dolly," and California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Chairman Robert Klein said stem cell research will emerge as an important growth engine for the country in offering new hope against incurable diseases.

In a joint news conference, they said the nation's outstanding achievements in the early stage of stem cell research has given the country a head start.

Meanwhile, other participants opposed human cloning on ethical and safety grounds regardless of the possibility.