Teruhiko Wakayama
	Born in 1967 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Dr. Wakayama studied animal husbandry in the graduate school of Ibaraki University, and earned a doctorate in agriculture following further post-graduate studies in veterinary science at the University of Tokyo. In 1996, Dr. Wakayama went to study at the University of Hawaii under Dr. Ryuzo Yanagimachi, a world-famous authority in the field of mammalian fertilization research. In 1997, Dr. Wakayama succeeded in producing the world's first cloned mouse. Following assistant professor appointments at the University of Hawaii Medical School and Rockefeller University, in 2001 Dr. Wakayama became a researcher for a US biotech venture. He returned to Japan in 2002 and joined the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, where he is currently a full-time researcher and leads the genome reprogramming research team. Episodes from Dr. Wakayama's childhood and his research are detailed in Real Clone (Shogakkan), written by his older brother.

Takashi Miyazawa
	Born in 1956 in Tatsuno-cho, Nagano Prefecture. Employed by the Olympus Plant in Ina upon graduating from the machinery course at Minowa Prefectural Technical High School. At the Ina Plant, Mr. Miyazawa worked in lens grinding, assembling cameras, endoscopes, photographic devices for microscopes, and system biological microscopes, obtaining highest-level grades in the manufacture of optical devices and assembly of electronic devices in technical qualification run by Olympus. In 2003, Mr. Miyazawa became an accredited Olympus Manufacturing Master (the highest rank of skilled technician at Olympus). Mr. Miyazwa also received a Yellow Ribbon Medal from the Japanese government. Having inherited the craftsman's mentality of his late father, a carpenter, Mr. Miyazawa is now engaged in training the next generation of master technicians, to pass on skills acquired over 30 years with the company. Mr. Miyazawa is also a karate grade .holder who runs a karate school at his home for local residents. His numerous, and varied, hobbies include traveling by camper van, and amateur radio.

Yasuhiro Ueda
	Born in 1957 in Mitaka, Tokyo. Mr. Ueda joined Olympus upon graduation from the Waseda University School of Science and Engineering. At Olympus, Mr. Ueda has conducted research in bionics, i.e. mechanizing the mechanisms of living organisms. Following work on technology development and development programs for medical endoscopes, micromachines and other products, Mr. Ueda has been involved in drawing up business plans for endoscope and medical operations. Mr. Ueda is presently the Division Manager of the Life Science Planning Division, Life Science Group established in April 2003, where his role is to develop the group's life science business for the 21st century, keeping a close eye on developments in genome medicine.