Authors of controversial STAP stem cell study author correct 2011 paper

tissue engineering aThere have been a number of developments in the unraveling of two Nature studies out of the RIKEN Institute in Japan and Harvard purporting to show an easy way to create stem cells. There was an interim report of RIKEN’s investigation last Friday, and more details emerged this week.

And today, the Japan Times reported that last week, a correction of a 2011 paper by many of the same authors appeared in Tissue Engineering Part A. Here’s the correction notice, dated March 13:

In our paper entitled; “The Potential of Stem Cells in Adult Tissues Representative of the Three Germ Layers”, published in the journal, Part A Volume 17, Numbers 5 and 6, 2011, some errors have been identified in the figures published. Some very similar appearing PCR bands displayed in Figure 3, are incorrectly placed or redundantly used, either within Figure 3 or between Figures 2 and 3.

On Twitter, Paul Knoepfler called the correction problematic. Knoepfler, who has been critiquing the Nature papers on his blog, wrote that

They just removed “ambiguous” data (their wording) w/o replacing it w/correct data. Then say basically no big deal.

and

Also no mention that Figure 4 was also involved.

Like Retraction Watch? Consider supporting our growth. You can also follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, add us to your RSS reader, and sign up on our homepage for an email every time there’s a new post.

2 thoughts on “Authors of controversial STAP stem cell study author correct 2011 paper”

  1. So this is a correction stating what was going wrong, but does not correct the scientific record itself. interesting, never seen before.

  2. Concern about J Cell Biochem.’s article from Vacanti lab (One of STAP cell teams).

    J Cell Biochem. 2001;80(3):455-60.
    Identification and initial characterization of spore-like cells in adult mammals.
    Vacanti MP1, Roy A, Cortiella J, Bonassar L, Vacanti CA.

    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1097-4644%2820010301%2980:3%3C455::AID-JCB180%3E3.0.CO;2-Z/abstract

    Upper 5 tissue images of Fig.1a of this article are identical to copyrighted images of “BodyWorks Version 5” CD.

    Please compare the following Fig.1’s images and BodyWorks CD’s images

    Fig.1’s images ( J. Cell. Biochem., 80 (2001)) : http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ-EQ4aQP2U/U0FnQH05P0I/AAAAAAAABQo/TvUTXvS_Gdk/s1600/JCBfig1.jpg

    BodyWorks CD’s images (thumbnail)
    Retina: http://i.imgur.com/N8lse14.jpg
    Spinal Cord: http://i.imgur.com/T5u946r.jpg
    Pancreas: http://i.imgur.com/VutNi0P.jpg
    Liver: http://i.imgur.com/reFUIER.jpg
    Lung: http://i.imgur.com/7U0BzOd.jpg
    “(c) 1993 – 1995 SoftKey Multimedia Inc, a subsidiary of SoftKey International Inc, all rights reserved.”

    “BodyWorks Version 5”
    http://www.amazon.com/BodyWorks-5-0-CD-Softkey/dp/B0013N06B6

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.