Clone expert among arrested group

An academic with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a leading expert on animal cloning, was one of seven college professors arrested for diverting funds earmarked for key scientific and technological projects, the Beijing News reported on Friday.

According to an announcement made by the Ministry of Science and Technology, seven professors from five universities, including Li Ning from the academy, were found to have taken 25 million yuan ($4.1 million) in April 2012.

Li, 52, also a professor at China Agricultural University, was considered one of China's youngest academics and the leading expert in the field of animal clone research. He successfully established the bioreactor system of animal cloning and development in China.

Li was found guilty of committing the criminal offence during a period when he carried out a national key research project to cultivate new varieties of genetically modified organisms and was placed under investigation.

The other 6 professors were also found guilty.