Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Stem Cell Scandal
I am a firm believer in the usefulness of stem cells and believe that research should be supported by the US government. As a scientist, I am however appalled at the actions of anyone who fakes data. I have fired people for that very same behavior in the past and if they get a chance to continue in the field, it is usually as a lower level technician that is under scrutiny. Anyone who makes worldwide claims to fame should have the utmost integrity, unlike Hwang. Actions like this makes it harder for the public to accept scientific research. Under the current administration where science is used badly and results are tailored to acceptance of the administration's belief, this is just another blow to science professionals.
Some key dates in the South Korean stem cell scandal:
February 2004 - Hwang Woo-suk, a professor of veterinary science at Seoul National University, and colleagues announce they have cloned a human embryo and recovered stem cells from it.
May 2004 - The journal Nature reports two female scientists in Hwang's lab donated eggs for research. Hwang denies the report.
May 2005 - Hwang's lab reports creating 11 lines of human embryonic stem cells that are genetically matched to patients.
June 2005 - The South Korean government names Hwang the nation's first "top scientist," granting him $3 million in annual funding for five years.
August 2005 - Hwang's lab reports the first cloning of a dog.
October 2005 - Hwang and scientists announce an international consortium on stem cell research. The World Stem Cell Hub opens in Seoul as part of the project, with plans to open the first branches in the United States and Britain.
Nov. 12, 2005 - Gerald Schatten, a University of Pittsburgh researcher, pulls out of a partnership with Hwang, citing questionable ethical practices in obtaining donor eggs for research.
Nov. 24, 2005 - Hwang apologizes for lying about the fact that his research used eggs from workers at his lab and that his lab paid other women for their eggs. Hwang also resigns as head of the World Stem Cell Hub.
December 2005 - Schatten asks Science to remove him as senior author of Hwang's May 2005 report, saying some elements may have been fabricated. A co-author of Hwang's says nine of the 11 cell lines were faked. Hwang's university launches an investigation. Science starts investigating the 2004 embryo-cloning paper. Nature begins an inquiry into the dog-cloning report.
Dec. 16, 2005 - Hwang admits his lab had only eight cell lines when they submitted the 2005 report and says he has asked Science to withdraw it. He claims some of his embryonic stem cells were switched.
Dec. 22, 2005 - Hwang files a complaint with prosecutors, calling for an investigation into the alleged stem-cell switch.
Dec. 23, 2005 - Seoul National University says that at least nine of the 11 cell lines Hwang reported were bogus. It also says it will investigate Hwang's other two major papers. Hwang says he would resign his professorship.
Dec. 29, 2005 - The university investigation says the remaining two cell lines were also fake.
Jan. 3, 2006 - South Korea's MBC Television network reports that one of Hwang's two researchers who donated eggs may have been coerced by Hwang.
Jan. 10, 2006 - Seoul National University says that Hwang faked the 2004 claim to have cloned human embryonic stem cells. It upholds Hwang's claims last year to have created the world's first cloned dog.
Some key dates in the South Korean stem cell scandal:
February 2004 - Hwang Woo-suk, a professor of veterinary science at Seoul National University, and colleagues announce they have cloned a human embryo and recovered stem cells from it.
May 2004 - The journal Nature reports two female scientists in Hwang's lab donated eggs for research. Hwang denies the report.
May 2005 - Hwang's lab reports creating 11 lines of human embryonic stem cells that are genetically matched to patients.
June 2005 - The South Korean government names Hwang the nation's first "top scientist," granting him $3 million in annual funding for five years.
August 2005 - Hwang's lab reports the first cloning of a dog.
October 2005 - Hwang and scientists announce an international consortium on stem cell research. The World Stem Cell Hub opens in Seoul as part of the project, with plans to open the first branches in the United States and Britain.
Nov. 12, 2005 - Gerald Schatten, a University of Pittsburgh researcher, pulls out of a partnership with Hwang, citing questionable ethical practices in obtaining donor eggs for research.
Nov. 24, 2005 - Hwang apologizes for lying about the fact that his research used eggs from workers at his lab and that his lab paid other women for their eggs. Hwang also resigns as head of the World Stem Cell Hub.
December 2005 - Schatten asks Science to remove him as senior author of Hwang's May 2005 report, saying some elements may have been fabricated. A co-author of Hwang's says nine of the 11 cell lines were faked. Hwang's university launches an investigation. Science starts investigating the 2004 embryo-cloning paper. Nature begins an inquiry into the dog-cloning report.
Dec. 16, 2005 - Hwang admits his lab had only eight cell lines when they submitted the 2005 report and says he has asked Science to withdraw it. He claims some of his embryonic stem cells were switched.
Dec. 22, 2005 - Hwang files a complaint with prosecutors, calling for an investigation into the alleged stem-cell switch.
Dec. 23, 2005 - Seoul National University says that at least nine of the 11 cell lines Hwang reported were bogus. It also says it will investigate Hwang's other two major papers. Hwang says he would resign his professorship.
Dec. 29, 2005 - The university investigation says the remaining two cell lines were also fake.
Jan. 3, 2006 - South Korea's MBC Television network reports that one of Hwang's two researchers who donated eggs may have been coerced by Hwang.
Jan. 10, 2006 - Seoul National University says that Hwang faked the 2004 claim to have cloned human embryonic stem cells. It upholds Hwang's claims last year to have created the world's first cloned dog.
# posted by Morgan @ 6:54 AM 
