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Faking the Data and Human Cloning

Life for cloning pioneer and embryonic stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk has been difficult at best following allegations that his ground-breaking paper on human cloning was fake.

Science is now investing the accuracy of the data and conclusions Hwang published in their respected and peer reviewed journal.

Two photographs of stem cells, used by Hwang to support his findings, apparently appeared previously in the journal Molecules and Cells in an article describing a routine experiment.

In addition, Hwangâ€™s assertion that he used 185 human eggs to create custom-made embryonic stem cells for 11 patients is now highly improbable. Roh Sung-il, chairman of the board at Seoul's Mizmedi Hospital, said the hospital provided more than 900 eggs from 65 women for research that led to Hwangâ€™s internally acclaimed paper Hwang.

While the reports of faked data and illegitimate results have cast a dark shadow on ESC research, the emphasis of criticism and debate needs to center on the intrinsic value of human life and not on the low probability of ESC success. The latter is a pragmatic argument that places the life of the embryo in a position that is subservient to the potential benefit his or her destruction will provide others. Conversely, the inherent dignity of human life impales any argument supporting pragmatism as a basis for bioethics.

Yes, ESC research hype is being exposed and resources will most likely be shifted to endeavors that may actually help people. Excellent! However, it is a poor reflection on our culture that a scientist had to commit fraud for ESC supporters to lose enthusiasm for the destruction of human life.

Image: *Adult* Neural Stem Cells residing in the hippocampus and in a region in the forebrain called the subventricular zone can generate new neurons.

Posted by tim at December 21, 2005 12:46 PM

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