Stem cell biology and cloning
Hwang Woo-suk: Cloned human embryonic stem cell papers, 2004 to 2005
Seoul National University
Misconduct found Dismissed by Seoul National University in 2006 after its committee found fabricated data in both Science papers. In February 2014 the Supreme Court upheld his suspended prison sentence for embezzlement and bioethics violations and his acquittal on fraud, and ruled in the university's favour on his dismissal, returning that case to a lower court.1,2,3,4
Papers
| Paper | Action | Date | Reason stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper reporting an embryonic stem cell line (NT-1) derived from a cloned human blastocyst Science, 2004 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.10945151,2,5 | Retracted | 20 January 2006 | Retracted by an editorial retraction from Science editor Donald Kennedy (notice doi 10.1126/science.1124926) after the Seoul National University investigation found the data and images fabricated, according to The Scientist. |
| Paper reporting patient-specific embryonic stem cell lines derived from cloned blastocysts Science, 2005 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.11122861,2,5 | Retracted | 20 January 2006 | Retracted in the same editorial retraction after the university committee found the supporting data, including DNA fingerprinting and teratoma images, were fabricated. |
Investigations
- Seoul National University Investigation Committee (chair Chung Myeong Hee), 6 January 2006The committee found the team did not have the patient-specific stem cell lines claimed in 2005, that NT-1 in the 2004 paper was not created by nuclear transfer as claimed, and that data in both papers were fabricated.1
- Seoul Central District Court, then appeals court, October 2009The trial court convicted him in October 2009 of embezzling research funds and of bioethics law violations over obtaining human eggs, and acquitted him of fraud. An appeals court upheld the verdict, as reported by The Scientist.2
- Supreme Court of Korea, 27 February 2014Upheld a suspended prison term of one year and six months, suspended for two years, for embezzlement and violation of the Bioethics Law, and upheld the acquittal on fraud. In his separate suit over his dismissal, it reversed an appeals court ruling that the dismissal was too heavy a punishment, saying the university's dismissal was justifiable, and sent the case back to a lower court for further review, according to The Korea Times, Korea JoongAng Daily and The Scientist.3,4,2
Sources
- Seoul National University, Final report of the SNU Investigation Committee on Dr. Hwang's research (6 January 2006)
- The Scientist, Hwang convictions upheld (28 February 2014)
- The Korea Times, Stem cell scientist gets suspended prison term (27 February 2014)
- Korea JoongAng Daily, Top court sides with SNU over Hwang's firing (27 February 2014)
- Science, via Crossref, Editorial Retraction (Donald Kennedy), Crossref metadata (20 January 2006)