The investigative panel on verifying the research of scientist Hwang Woo-suk said it will study his thesis published last year in the journal Science and the world's first cloned dog "Snuppy."

Announcing the interim results of its week-long probe Friday, the panel said it sent to independent agencies Thursday nine frozen stem cell samples kept in Hwang's lab and nine others under cultivation.

DNA tests are also underway for 13 somatic cell samples from donors, three of teratoma and blood samples related to Snuppy.

The samples sent for DNA testing include five stem cells that Hwang said were switched with those at MizMedi Women's Hospital by his former assistant Kim Sun-jong.

The panel said its inspection results showed Hwang did help falsify his paper published this year, to which he acknowldeged partial responsibility.

Kim, now working at the University of Pittsburgh, will also face questioning on the alleged switch of stem cells.