Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Scientist stands by his stem cell research

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea's best-known scientist said Friday he stands by his breakthrough stem cell research despite a barrage of fraud allegations and vowed to prove the findings.

But Hwang Woo Suk apologized for "fatal errors and loopholes in reporting the scientific accomplishment" and said he has asked that the scientific article outlining his research be withdrawn. He gave no details of the errors.

The paper, published in May by the journal Science, purported to show how Hwang's team used cloning to custom-make embryonic stem cells for 11 patients, raising hopes of treatment for paralysis or ailments like Parkinson's disease.

Donald Kennedy, editor in chief of Science, said Hwang's request to withdraw the paper cited an analysis of the data that had determined some results "could not be trusted." He said all authors must agree to a withdrawal and Hwang was contacting the others to secure their approval.

Hwang's team earlier told Science some duplicate photos of the same stem cell colonies had accidentally been printed in the journal and presented as separate colonies, a mistake the editors have said did not affect the findings.

Friday, Hwang insisted his research team "made patient-specific embryonic stem cells, and we have the source technology to produce them."

But his former research partner, Roh Sung Il, repeated accusations Friday that Hwang wasn't telling the truth. Roh - a co-author of the article and chairman of the board at a leading Seoul hospital - ignited a firestorm Thursday by saying Hwang had pressured a lab worker to falsify research data. He also questioned Hwang's claims that he created 11 stem cell colonies.

Hwang had earlier insisted the 11 cell colonies were created "without 1 percent of doubt." He said some cells had died due to contamination, but others are now being thawed and will prove his work valid within 10 days.

But Roh said he visited Hwang on Thursday and the scientist told him all the cell colonies had died.

"What can I say if Hwang changes the remarks he made with his own mouth yesterday?" Roh said.

University of Pittsburgh researcher Gerald Schatten has already asked that Science remove his name as the paper's senior author.

The allegations have stunned the country, which aspires to be a center of global stem cell research, and sent stock market prices down sharply Friday after a monthlong rally.

[Last modified December 17, 2005, 01:02:06]