Science Scandal Triggers Suicide, Soul-Searching in Japan

It was a success story that Japan sorely needed: a young, talented and beautiful researcher developed a cheap and simple way to grow versatile stem cells. MoreTokyo: What to See and What to SkipThis Is How TIME Explained the Atomic Bomb in 1945Iselle Weakens to Tropical Storm as Julio Barrels On NBC NewsIsrael Vows to 'Forcefully React' as Cease-Fire Ends NBC NewsCops Tampered With Pistorius Evidence, Lawyer Alleges NBC NewsThe discovery promised to usher in a new age of regenerative medicine, validated Japan as a leader in scientific research and demonstrated that even in a male-dominated society, women could excel when given a chance. Popular Among Subscribers Ending the War on Fat Subscribe The End of IraqHow Many People Watched Orange Is the New Black? No One KnowsAlas, it may have been too good to be true. Intrigued by researcher Haruko Obokata’s breakthrough, other scientists tried but failed to replicate her results. Peer-review websites accused her of falsifying data and doctoring images, and supervisors were accused of lax management. Obokata, 30, was forced to retract her scientific papers, and the government-sponsored research center where she worked launched a formal investigation. The matter took a darker turn this week when Obokata’s supervisor and mentor, Yoshiki Sasai, a noted scientist in his own right, was found hanging from a stairway railing at his office. In farewell letters found at his desk, Sasai reported...
Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized haruko obokata Japan Research Science Stem Cells Suicide Yoshiki Sasai Source Type: news