It's a researcher's worst nightmare: an unexpected allegation of scientific misconduct broadcast to colleagues and journalists without any clue as to where the accusation is coming from or how to respond to it. That's what happened twice last week, when a group calling itself'Stem Cell Watch' sent e-mails claiming evidence of fraud in recent publications from prominent stem-cell researchers. "We are continuing to point out suspicious results and duplications reported by scientists in the stem-cell field," the group wrote. There is no indication that any of its accusations are correct, but the group has rattled a rapidly moving field that is accustomed to controversy, causing researchers to fear for their credibility and forcing journal editors to re-examine published work.
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