S. Korean's Stem Cell Data Fake, Panel Says
SEOUL — A panel investigating the work of South Korean cloning pioneer Hwang Woo Suk has concluded that he deliberately fabricated key data in a landmark paper this year, offering the first evidence of what is potentially one of the greatest frauds in modern science.
The expert panel at Seoul National University, where Hwang conducted his research, found that nine of 11 stem cell lines he claimed to have created did not exist.
Hwang's actions "were not simple mistakes," Roe Jung Hye, head of research at Seoul National University, said Friday. "There was intentional fabrication.
"This activity was major misconduct that damages the foundation of science," Roe said.
After the release of the panel's report, Hwang offered to resign his post at the university's College of Veterinary Medicine.
"I sincerely apologize to the people for creating a shock and disappointment," Hwang told reporters as he left his university office.
The South Korean Ministry of Science and Technology, which had designated Hwang the country's first "top scientist," said it would "consider necessary follow-up measures" and will suspend Hwang's research funds in light of the panel's findings.
Hwang's paper, published in May by the U.S. journal Science, purported to describe the creation of 11 human embryo clones using DNA from patients suffering from spinal cord injuries and genetic diseases. No other research group has succeeded in cloning human embryos, though many have been trying.
Hwang's team claimed it used the embryos to create individualized lines of stem cells that were perfect genetic matches to the 11 patients. The achievement, known as therapeutic cloning, was believed to be the first step toward creating personalized stem cell therapies for patients.
Instead, the expert panel found that only two stem cell lines existed when the paper was submitted to Science on March 15. The validity of those cell lines is still being studied.
"Everyone in the field really wished that the paper was right," said Dr. George Q. Daley, a scientist at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Cambridge, Mass. "It's just profoundly disappointing and disturbing that this has occurred. It's really hurtful to the whole scientific endeavor."
The revelation shook South Korea, where Hwang has been one of the most beloved figures in the country.
- Top Scientist Accused of Faking Stem Cell Findings Dec 16, 2005
- S. Korea Scientist Questioned in Fraud Probe Mar 03, 2006
- Inquiry of Stem Cell Scientist Gets Underway Dec 19, 2005
