Disgraced stem cell scientist blames researchers

[shugah]

Disgraced stem cell scientist blames researchers
Staff and agencies
Thursday January 12, 2006

The disgraced South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk today apologised for fabricating human stem cell breakthroughs, but insisted the blame lay with dishonest junior researchers.

Dr Hwang - once regarded as the world's leading stem cell pioneer - maintained he had the technology to use cloning to create human embryonic stem cells genetically matched to patients and could do so in six months if he had access to enough human eggs.

~snip~

With his credibility in tatters, there is considerable doubt that Dr Hwang will get the chance to continue his research. His home was raided today as part of criminal investigation into the alleged misuse of state funds.

However, he repeated his claims that he had been deceived about the data by two junior scientists at Mizmedi hospital, a partner research centre, and said he believed his papers were legitimate when they were published.

Dr Hwang said the junior researchers had tricked him into believing they had successfully culled and grown stem cells from human embryos cloned by Dr Hwang's team.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/korea/article/0,2763,1684859,00.html

[Bridget Burke]

1. Nope. The head of a study is the responsible one.

If he presents fake data, it doesn't matter whether he personally did the faking.

[shugah]

2. it's so popular these days

"taking responsibility" by blaming someone else.

[Bridget Burke]

4. The "Ken Lay" defense....

He just didn't know what those evil underlings were up to.

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

3. Thanks for stealing our hope, you SUK!

On behalf of the millions of diabetics (like me) who got their hopes up when we heard about this research, I say jail the guy! No passing the buck, Mr. Woo-Suk. Your name was on the report, so the buck stops with you, Woo-Suk. There was so much hope in our community when the initial news came out; what a horrible let down to find it was all a LIE!