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Briefing: Anatomy of a Stem Cell Controversy

from New Scientist

A former member of one of the most prominent stem-cell research teams has been found guilty of falsifying data.

New Scientist explains why the group's work is important, looks at where the findings stand now, and asks: what are the implications for the rest of stem cell biology?

Why is this research team so well known? The team, led by Catherine Verfaillie of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, claimed to have isolated a rare type of cell from bone marrow that could develop into most, if not all, of the body's tissues. Previously, only embryonic stem cells (ESCs) had been shown to be this versatile.