[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.