[STAP Cell > easy explanation] Does it really exist? Nobody knows except researchers. But I still believe there is a hope.

I wrote an article about STAP cell before. Ms.Obogata and her research collaborators got successful to make STAP cell. But suspicion arises. Because there are some artifacts in their research paper and nobody can make STAP cell except the team of Ms.Obogata.   

The board of investigation in RIKEN, they are trying to find out whether the paper is true or not. Here are the key points of the investigation.

1. The photo of STAP cell on the paper is doctored?

2. The photo of placenta looks like same even the experiment is different.

3. One of the photo of gene analysis is cut and paste?

4. Did they copy the experiment technique from the other paper?

5. The experiment technique is different from the actual procedure.

6. Did Ms. Obogata divert the photo from her doctor's thesis?

At the press conference, they said they figured out that there is no doubt about 1 and 2. 

Ms. Obogata sent the photos to Nature, but the photo got the distortion when Nature uploaded the photos on the paper. So Ms.Obogata didn't doctor the photo. 

 A photo of placenta.

   It looks like same photo on another paper.

The board of investigation, they determined the photos are actually same photo. But the falsification is in the category.  No harm and they couldn't detect improper manipulation. But they still have to investigate for the remaining matters. 

I read a news paper today. All member of Ms. Obogata's team are trying to dismiss the paper in Nature. However a professor of Harvard University, Dr. Charls Vacanti who was a supervisor for Ms. Obogata when she was studying in USA is opposed to dismiss the paper. 

There is an opinion that they should dismiss the paper and try to make another paper without any doubt. In either case, we just want to know STAP cell really exists or not. There is no basis for believing that STAP cell is true now but I believe still there is a hope. I think they will dismiss the paper and make another paper to convince everybody in the world. The criticism is inherent to new. I hope they can show us a wonderful result again.

Ganbare~! Obogata-san!

(Next article: >[STAP Cell] Does it really exist????)

Thank you so much.

3 years after the earthquake disaster. A message from Emperor of Japan, Akihito.

Thank you so much for visiting Astro Shop Japan! It has been a long time to update this blog. Gomennasai... I would like to post a message from Japan's emperor, Akihito today.

Three years from today, the massive earthquake associated Tsunami caused more than two million people deaths and the missing persons. Still so many victims are continuing the difficult living in the affected areas. Fukushima nuclear power plant accident occurred by the earthquake. People still can not live in the radioactive contamination area and has been forced to leave their familiar environment. I get sad thinking about the people who can not return to their own house...

In the affected areas, people give consideration to bond of each other and overcome the many difficulties. They have continued to strive hard towards the reconstruction. I take heart that people in Japan and people outside Japan continues to support for the disaster victim.

I think people has to snuggle each other with one heart to keep their health and to live with hope. And I hope we hand down to our posterity to never forget the memory of this disaster and try to foster the disaster prevention and to build a safe national land.

Wishing people can get back the restful life as soon as possible. This is an eulogy for the departed souls.

This is just a great message for the victims.  I hope we can achieve full recovery as soon as possible.

Thank you so much.