Skip to content
WebMD: Better Information. Better Health.
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Videos

Information and Resources

This article is from the WebMD News Archive

Font Size
A
A
A

Korean Stem Cell Study Questioned

Seoul National University Agrees to Investigate
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Dec. 15, 2005 -- Controversy about Korean research on stem cells is prompting a university investigation.

Korea's Seoul National University has pledged to investigate research done by Woo Suk Hwang, DVM, PhD, and colleagues. That's according to Science's web site. Science published the study in question in its June print edition.

The study study claimed to have succeeded at creating stem cells that match a patient's genetic material.

Now, Korean news stations have aired allegations by one of Hwang's Korean co-authors that several stem cell lines used in the study were faked. Reports of those allegations are noted on the web site of another scientific journal, Nature.

Hwang has not yet responded to the questions about his stem cell work. He had been hospitalized for several days due to stress, according to news reports in Science and the Associated Press.

Hwang, who has been considered a pioneer in cloning research, has lately been under fire for other ethical breaches. On Nov. 24, he resigned his official posts over allegations that his team used eggs from some junior members of his research team in their work.

Science's web site notes that one of the co-authors on the stem cell study, Gerald Schatten, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh, has asked Science to remove his name from the paper. Schatten had helped analyze data but didn't work on the stem cell experiment itself.

webMD Video

Show or hide information about video: Boosting Your Breasts Without Implants   Boosting Your Breasts Without Implants

48x48_boosting_your_breasts_without_implants.jpg

A breakthrough procedure gives women who want bigger breasts, but don’t like the idea of implant surgery, a new option.

Watch Video: Boosting Your Breasts Without Implants (opens in a new window)

Show or hide information about video: Dirty Truth About Hand Washing   Dirty Truth About Hand Washing

Show or hide information about video: Too Busy To Exercise?   Too Busy To Exercise?

Show or hide information about video: Boost Your Immune System   Boost Your Immune System

Show or hide information about video: What's Your Sleep Personality?   What's Your Sleep Personality?