The Stem Cells and Development has retracted a study by Newcastle University which claimed to have made sperm from stem cells due to plagiarism. The journal's editor told Nature that all introductory paragraphs of the study were copied from a review in the journal Biology of Reproduction, which appeared in 2007.
"This is clearly scientific misconduct," said Allan Pacey, secretary for the British Fertility Society. "I can understand why people might think, if they were sloppy here, maybe they were sloppy elsewhere."
"No questions have been raised about the science conducted or the conclusions of the research," the statement said.
However Pacey remained unconvinced that sperm could be grown in a lab. "It was bad enough to begin with, and now we've got another scandal to deal with," he said.
Elizabeth Wager, chairperson of the Committee on Publication Ethics said the journal was right to retract the paper.
RAS
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technological procedure performed under a microscope, which aids in the introduction of a single sperm into the cytoplasm of an egg.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technological procedure performed under a microscope, which aids in the introduction of a single sperm into the cytoplasm of an egg.
Journey of the Male Sperm
Interactive section of Medindia explains the journey of the sperm from testis to the outside world.
Interactive section of Medindia explains the journey of the sperm from testis to the outside world.
