Stem cell pioneer in fraud claim
Fresh allegations of fraud in stem cell research by prominent South Korean researcher Hwang Woo-suk have surfaced and scientists say his other high-profile claims could face investigation as well.
Among them are the first cloned human embryos and the first cloned dog. The reputation of Dr. Hwang, of Seoul National University, has been battered by allegations of fabrication in a blockbuster paper published in May. He and co-authors claimed that by cloning human embryos, they had created 11 stem cell lines that genetically matched certain patients.
Yesterday, a South Korean television station reported that a co-author of the paper said Dr Hwang had pressured a former scientist at his lab to fake data for the report. Nine of the 11 cell lines were faked and the authenticity of the other two was unknown, the co-author said.
Dr Hwang has reportedly agreed to ask Science to withdraw the paper, but the journal said yesterday it had received no such request.
Source: Courier-Mail
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