Korean Researcher Is Said to Admit Stem Cell Fakery

In 10 of the 11 lines, the donor and recipient material came from unrelated people -- a condition that would have to work if stem cells were ever to become widely used. The donors all had illnesses that theoretically might be cured by tissue derived from stem cells. They included people with immune deficiency diseases, spinal cord injuries and autoimmune conditions such as Type 1 diabetes. According to the report, the stem cells were also produced far more efficiently than in previous experiments, with each round of egg donation from a fertile woman giving rise to about one line of stem cells.

Suspicions about the accuracy of some details in the May paper arose before yesterday.

On Dec. 1, the chairman of the institutional review board that reviewed Hwang's research proposals for ethical and scientific integrity told the editor of Science that two junior scientists in Hwang's laboratory had provided the eggs and had been paid $1,145 for expenses.

The May paper, and one published in March 2004 describing the first production of stem cells from cloned human embryos, said egg donors had not been paid. A correction noting the payment was electronically appended to the May paper and posted by the journal yesterday.

Ethical guidelines generally prohibit researchers and their employees from donating eggs because the women might feel pressure to do so.

On Dec. 4, Hwang told Science's editors that four pictures of stem-cell-derived tissue published online with the May paper were duplicates. That happened unintentionally, he said.

Stories questioning the validity of his research began appearing in the Korean media last month. On Nov. 12, Schatten, who holds faculty appointments in reproductive sciences and cell biology at Pittsburgh, announced he was severing his 20-month collaboration with the Korean scientist. On Monday, Schatten asked Science to remove his name as an author on the May article. The journal refused.

To retract a paper, all of its authors must sign documents either making the request or saying they will not oppose it. The journal can retract a paper over its authors' objections if it finds cause.

Staff writer Rick Weiss contributed to this report.