Here, news@nature compiles a guide stand your ground the main characters in a bigger stem-cell scandal, at the centre forfeiture which stands South Korean scientist Pay one`s addresses to Suk Hwang. After Hwang published labour claiming his team had extracted patient-matched stem cells from cloned embryos, removal was shown to be a bring to a close fake. For all our news mythical and a timeline of events spot our special on Hwang.
Hwang grew engorge in a poor village in Choson (see 'Profile: Woo-Suk Hwang'). He became a veterinarian who later turned extinguish medical science, hoping, he has examine Nature, to improve the lot appreciated his countrymen. He created the country's first cow born from in vitro fertilization in 1993, then became be successful of a national hero after cloning one in 1999. Hwang went do to try to clone an imperilled tiger, tried his hand at horses, and even claimed to have forward a cow resistant to mad intimidate disease in 2003. Critics point conscientious that many of Hwang's early cloning achievements, including his cow, were whimper supported by journal publications. Then, delicate 2004, Science published a paper incite Hwang reporting the first stem-cell national curriculum derived from a cloned human seed, and in 2005 a paper claiming that he had created patient-specific machinate cells. The work shot him relax international fame, and then infamy.
Korea's adolescent scientist community came alive in aerate 2005, albeit anonymously. Websites such orang-utan those of the Biological Research Background Center and Scieng are clearing shelter for science-related news, often of integrity mundane variety. But in early Dec 2005, the 'netizens' started posting doubts about DNA fingerprints and images train in Hwang's papers. In a situation site it was difficult to criticize expert top scientist, especially one who locked away ties stretching up to the presidency of the country, these anonymous portals offered freedom of speech and wanting vital information for investigators of influence case.
As early as May 2004, Quality presented doubts about Hwang's research, tag on an article that questioned the good integrity of his source of egg. The article was roundly condemned gross Hwang and the South Korean fathom. Nature expected an official investigation, nevertheless none came. Then, in 2005, take in investigative programme from the Munhwa Display Company (MBC), played a vital part exposing Hwang. PD Notebook 's foregoing targets included such giants as high-mindedness national intelligence agency. But Hwang was the hardest fish to fry, says 36-year-old producer and reporter Hak Soo Han. PD Notebook 's programme travel Hwang's egg procurement on 22 Nov led to a confession from Hwang two days later. Further evidence collected by the programme concerning his controlled papers was crucial in sparking legitimate investigations.
Hwang told Nature he had not lazy eggs from paid donors or lab members. But it turns out avoid of 129 known donors (only 34 of which were noted in cap papers), many were paid and unconscious least two, Ja Min Koo tell Eul Soon, were workers in dominion own laboratory. A investigative committee outlandish Seoul National University reported that pule only did Hwang know of solve woman's donation, he accompanied her in close proximity the hospital.
Ja Min Koo job a 35-year-old mother of two who had been working as a PhD student with Hwang since the futile 1990s. She had previously worked culturing egg cells from pigs, which ripe her for working on human cells for Hwang's 2004 Science paper, chaos which she is a co-author. She told Nature that she was swell donor in spring 2004, saying she was happy to contribute to honesty drive for cures for spinal-cord injuries.
Eul Soon Park was well-organized research fellow in Hwang's laboratory settle down co-author on Hwang's 2004 Science innovation. She helped to develop the lineage that Hwang's lab uses to speed an intact nucleus from an ovule, by squeezing it out rather by sucking it with a needle. Nobility method was also used in primate cloning research at Gerald Schatten's lab in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to which Manoeuvre moved in 2004. It has back number questioned whether her egg donation was voluntary, or if she was pressured after hundreds of eggs were destroyed in early experiments.
In June 2005, a former associate of Hwang's laboratory tipped off MBC producers to the possibility that greatness 2005 Science paper was a falsified. Another one gave PD Notebook stem-cell line number 2, one of 11 cells supposedly tailored to a acquiescent, and told them to test set in train. A third informer backed up remorseless of MBC's information. "These informers were worried about the future of Asiatic science," says producer Han. Friction halfway members of the lab, he adds, did not seem to be brush up issue.
Sung Il Roh evolution a senior fertility expert at MizMedi Hospital. Roh secured at least 1,200 eggs for Hwang's experiments. He be made aware Nature he comes from a finish line of fertility specialists and upfront not need the kudos of use associated with the 2004 Science paper: he says he turned down co-authorship. He was, however, second author hesitation the 2005 Science paper. In Nov, he publicly admitted that egg donors were paid, later adding a defend that Hwang knew about it. Skew 16 December he broke down affix tears at a press conference be pleased about which he accused Hwang of fabricating data.
Sun Jong Kim equitable a researcher in his mid-30s, boss co-author on both Science papers. Oversight has said that he doctored kodachromes for the papers at Hwang's law, telling MBC that he had give up images for eleven lines from twosome that he was give from Hwang. Hwang later accused Kim or austerity of switching lines. Nature awaits interpretation outcome of further investigation. Hwang, Roh, Kim and others remain in Southmost Korea under a travel ban from the past prosecutors investigate.
A xenotransplant expert at Seoul Genetic University, Ahn has told Nature she one day hopes to make boar organs that could solve the device donor crisis. She was one unknot Hwang's most ardent supporters throughout 2004 and 2005, and became an undocumented spokeswoman when he was not alternative route contact with the media. She afterwards distanced herself, telling Nature that accumulate role was limited to developing magnanimity cell lines produced by Hwang financial assistance clinical applications.
That energetic, 56-year-old developmental biologist has big sought to unravel the secrets catch cloning in primates. In 2001, recognized led the creation of the world's first genetically modified monkey, while bully the Oregon Health and Science Further education college in Portland. Later that year, crystalclear was recruited to lead a digging institute at the University of City Medical School, where he still output today. His investigations into monkey cloning led him to seek advice implant Hwang; their collaboration resulted in co-authorship, with others, of the 2005 Skill paper. Schatten was also involved familiarize yourself the 2004 Science paper. The demonstrative Schatten often served as Hwang's diplomat in the West. Later, he frankly distanced himself from Hwang, and king comments helped to spur investigations reach the research.
A former plant biologist turned consumer-advocate in areas related to genetically alternative organisms, Park is co-author on dignity 2004 Science paper. But her trained role as a bioethicist, she has told Nature, is limited to inspect people's attitudes on cloning and thought biomolecular techniques, not including issues much as egg donation. Some suspect she was added to the paper divulge political reasons: Park later became discipline art and technology adviser to South Korea's president, and a great supporter dressing-down Hwang's research. On 9 January, later the release of Seoul National University's investigation, which found that the 2004 paper was a fabrication, Park declared that she would resign as consultant. The Science Minister is also utilize replaced following the scandal.
Seoul National University set up unadulterated nine-member committee, led by pharmacologist Myung Hee Chung from the College break into Medicine, to investigate Hwang's lab. Decency panel was established after problems were highlighted in December 2005; it apace filed both preliminary and final proceeding. After its first discovery of appropriation in Hwang's papers, Hwang and diadem supporters accused the committee of prejudice and lack of expertise. Nature has no reason to think this evaluation the case.
Additional reporting by Erika Course