Posted on 12/22/2005 8:06:10 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SEOUL, South Korea - South Korean researcher Hwang Woo-suk faked results of at least nine of 11 stem-cell lines he claimed to have created, a deliberate deception that has undermined the credibility of science, his university said Friday.
The announcement by Seoul National University of results so far in its investigation into Hwang's work were the first confirmation of allegations that have cast a shadow over his entire list of breakthroughs in cloning and stem-cell technology.
"This kind of error is a grave act that damages the foundation of science," the panel said.
In a May paper in the journal Science, Hwang claimed to have created 11 stem-cell lines matched to patients in an achievement that raised hopes of creating tailored therapies for hard-to-treat diseases. But one of his former collaborators last week said nine of the 11 cell lines were faked, prompting reviews by the journal and an expert panel at Seoul National University, where Hwang works.
The panel said Friday it found that "the laboratory data for 11 stem cell lines that were reported in the 2005 paper were all data made using two stem cell lines in total."
To create fake DNA results purporting to show a match, Hwang's team split cells from one patient into two test tubes for the analysis — rather than actually match cloned cells to a patient's original cells, the university said.
"Based on these facts, the data in the 2005 Science paper cannot be some error from a simple mistake, but cannot be but seen as a deliberate fabrication to make it look like 11 stem-cell lines using results from just two," the panel said.
"There is no way but that Professor Hwang has been involved," the university's dean of research affairs, Roe Jung-hye, told a news conference, adding that Hwang "somewhat admits to this,"
The panel said DNA tests expected to be completed within a few days would confirm if the remaining two stem-cell lines it had found were actually successfully cloned from a patient.
In light of the revelations, the panel said it would now also investigate Hwang's other landmark papers — which include another Science article in 2004 on the world's first cloned human embryos, and an August 2005 paper in the journal Nature on the first-ever cloned dog. The journals already are reviewing all the work.
Hwang, a veterinarian, has maintained his science is sound and that tests will prove his case.
However, he admitted last week to "fatal errors" in the May report and asked Science to withdraw the paper. He acknowledged that at the time of publication, his team had created only eight cell lines. But he said three more were created later.
The panel said Friday that it found was no records of two of the other stem-cell lines Hwang claims to have created. Four others died from contamination, and another three were in the nurturing stage and hadn't yet become full stem-cell lines.
Hwang's article this year had also been viewed as significant for his efficiency in cloning the stem-cell lines, claiming to use just 185 human eggs to create custom-made embryonic stem cells for the 11 patients.
But Roe said the investigation had "found that there have been a lot more eggs used than were reported" and were investigating the exact number.
The university is waiting to take action against Hwang until its investigation is complete, but Roe said: "It's hard for Professor Hwang to escape grave responsibility."
A woman reads a book next to magazines featuring South Korean stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk at a bookstore in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Stem cells used in research by the embattled scientist who had been hailed as a cloning pioneer are to undergo DNA tests to check if he fabricated any results, his university said Thursday. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)
Reuters thread posted earlier
S.Korean panel says stem-cell result fabricated ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1545778/posts
Embryonic stem cell research is a fake form of science to begin with. That's why they all lie to voters, patients, and even the scientific community.
South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk, who faces charges from collaborators that key parts of their landmark May 2005 paper on producing patient-specific stem cells were fabricated, arrives at his office at the Seoul National University in Seoul December 22, 2005. REUTERS/You Sung-Ho
Thanks!
Merry Christmas to All the Mods!
See ya at Daytona! ;-)
It seems that Korean culture is incredibly competitive when it comes to academic pursuits. I wonder if this contributed to his deceptive tactics. I have also been researching Korean culture in general. I just recently have been dealing with them more and more. Does anyone have any insights into their cultural mindsights, stereotypes, and what the differences are predominately between Korean, Chinese and japanese cultures? I know I'm asking a lot!!!
Science and Nature should disclose the reviewers and their comments. Given that the work upon which the papers are based must be several years old, and that this sort of work is being widely attempted, serious misconduct as apparently happened here should be detectable or at least suspected. Did the reviewers question the data?
Update
South Korean Researcher Resigns From Post
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/skorea_stem_cell;_ylt=Au0X1DUj.WxBfi.Vfmc6rRSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--
SEOUL, South Korea - South Korean researcher Hwang Woo-suk resigned from his position as a professor on Friday after his university said he had fabricated the results of at least nine of 11 stem-cell lines that he claimed to have created.
"I sincerely apologize to the people for creating a shock and disappointment," Hwang told reporters as he was leaving his office at Seoul National University. "As a symbol of apology, I step down as professor of Seoul National University."
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