[LETTERS to the editor]Confidence in Hwang

It is a terrible misfortune that a possible ethics violation has happened at Seoul National University and has stained the reputation of Dr. Hwang and his team. However, I am proud of the way he responded. He took full responsibility, he did not make excuses, and he committed himself to following ethical standards in the future. This is the most important fact. The work must continue; his advances in stem cell research are far too significant to be derailed because of this controversy. Unlike the past, now there are laws in Korea governing these activities and now there are clearly defined ethical standards. From this point forward, Dr. Hwang and his team must ensure they always adhere to these guidelines. We can only hope this will be but a minor “blip” and that further progress in the field will soon overshadow this lapse in judgment. I, for one, remain confident that Dr. Hwang’s efforts will be rewarded with more significant advances in the field of stem cell research.

by Garry Forbes