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Scientist Quits Effort To Live-Blog Stem Cell Generation
According to reader sciencehabit (1205606), Kenneth Ka-Ho Lee, the embryologist who has been live-blogging his attempt to reproduce a new kind of stem cells, has given up, writing on this Research Gate page, "I don't think STAP cells exist and it will be a waste of manpower and research funding to carry on with this experiment any further." From the linked article: "Though he is giving up, he hopes others will continue to investigate whether the new approach – which has dogged by controversy and claims of research misconduct — can really lead to stem cells."
No, what he's given up on is trying to replicate dubious results allegedly obtained by others. In other words, by giving up he has significantly contributed to stem cell research.
Several images have been shown to be edited/duplicated, one of the main authors has recommended that the papers should be pulled etc...
"Wakayama told NHK he is no longer sure the STAP cells were actually created. He was in charge of important experiments to check the pluripotency of the cells.
He said a change in a specific gene is key proof that the cells are created. He said team members were told before they released the papers that the gene had changed.
Last week, RIKEN disclosed detailed procedures for making STAP cells after outside experts failed to replicate the results outlined in the Nature article.
Wakayama pointed out that in the newly released procedures, RIKEN says this change didn't take place.
He said he reviewed test data submitted to the team's internal meetings and found multiple serious problems, such as questionable images."
People (science deniers) are always talking about how scientists are only interested in their grants and saying what the popular opinion is to get more grants. The truth is that you can't make a name for yourself in science (and thus get money) by supporting the popular opinion. You only win a Nobel Prize by challenging the status quo and messing up everyone's preconceived notions.
This guy is a hero despite not being able to do what he wanted because he looked at the data and said "Wait, what? This is BS."
"This is BS." is how you get things done in science.
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By going this far, he has contributed. By giving up, he hasn't contributed further, but he is now of course free to make bigger contributions with new experiments.
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