Scientist Lied About Embryonic Stem-Cell Research Breakthrough

Citizenlink.org (12/16/05)

Hype about advances in embryonic stem-cell research coming from South Korean scientists was based on faked research, the Los Angeles Time reported.

Hwang Woo-suk published his alleged findings in the journal Science, describing his ability to clone embryos using DNA from sick patients to create personalizedstem-cell treatments.

Later Hwang told associate Roh Sung-il, an executive at MizMedi Hospital in Seoul, the research was faked because his stem-cell lines had died.

"If it's true, it's going to go down as probably the biggest scandal in science," said Insoo Hyun, a bioethicist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. "Even cold fusion didn't get this worldwide attention."

For more details on the scandal, read this article by Wesley J. Smith of the Discovery Institute.