ＳＴＡＰ作れず 細胞の正体は何だったのか

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Failure to reproduce STAP cells leaves their true nature unknown
ＳＴＡＰ作れず　細胞の正体は何だったのか

Results of verification experiments by RIKEN apparently suggest that stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells, which had been dubbed “dream versatile cells,” are nothing more than an illusion.
　夢の万能細胞とされたＳＴＡＰ細胞は、幻だったということだろう。

RIKEN announced Friday that Haruko Obokata, one of its researchers, had failed in her verification experiments to produce STAP cells by the deadline set in November. The nation’s top science and research institute added that a RIKEN team, which conducted STAP cell verification experiments separately, reached the same result.
　理化学研究所は、小保方晴子研究員が実施した検証実験で、期限の１１月までにＳＴＡＰ細胞を作製できなかったと発表した。小保方氏とは別に検証を行った理研のチームも同様の結果だった。

The institute decided to terminate the verification efforts. We think the termination is a reasonable judgment because there are no prospects for successful reproduction of the cells shown in her papers.
　理研は検証実験の打ち切りを決めた。論文で示された細胞を再現するめどが全く立たない以上、打ち切りは当然の判断だ。

Articles on STAP cells had already been retracted in July because fraudulent conduct, such as falsification of data, was recognized in the papers. Nonetheless, RIKEN continued the verification tests “to prove whether STAP cells exist or not.”
　データ改竄かいざんなどの不正が認定されたＳＴＡＰ論文は、７月に撤回されている。それでも理研は、「細胞の有無を明らかにするため」として、実験を続行してきた。

With Friday’s announcement by RIKEN, the row over the authenticity of STAP cells — which Obokata claimed she succeeded in producing over 200 times — has reached a major milestone. Obokata said she would quit the institute.
　今回の発表により、小保方氏が「２００回以上、作製に成功した」と強調したＳＴＡＰ細胞の真偽をめぐる騒動は、大きな区切りを迎えたと言えよう。小保方氏は理研を退職する。

Then, what really were the so-called STAP cells trumpeted by RIKEN in January? Some scientists say that they might be embryonic stem (ES) cells, which are versatile cells already known to science.
　今年１月、理研が大々的に発表したＳＴＡＰ細胞の正体は、何だったのだろうか。既に知られた万能細胞のＥＳ細胞（胚性幹細胞）ではないかとの指摘もある。

Was this a mistake caused by Obokata’s lack of expertise? Or was it an intentionally fraudulent claim? Though renowned researchers were listed as coauthors of the STAP cells papers along with Obokata, why couldn’t they detect the anomalies in her research? Many questions are left unanswered.
　小保方氏の未熟さゆえの誤りだったのか、意図的な不正だったのか。著名研究者が論文の共著者に名を連ねながら、なぜ見抜けなかったのか。なお疑問は残る。

Lessons must be learned

RIKEN has been investigating how her papers were produced through the establishment of a third-party panel. Results of the investigations should be used to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
　理研は第三者による調査委員会を設け、論文作成の経緯を調べている。再発防止に役立てることが求められる。

RIKEN must rebuild its governance and restore public trust in the organization as Japan’s top research institute as soon as possible, by learning a lesson from the fact that its self-checking system failed to function.
　チェック機能が働かなかったことを教訓に、ガバナンス（組織統治）を立て直し、日本トップの研究機関としての信頼回復を急がねばならない。

The scandal over STAP cells has also highlighted problems in the nation’s science community.
　ＳＴＡＰ細胞問題は、日本の科学界の懸案を浮き彫りにした。

Criticism has mounted against Waseda University, which granted a doctorate to Obokata, since plagiarism was found in her doctoral thesis. The university admitted that there were problems in the process of examining her degree thesis to decide whether she deserved the doctorate.
　小保方氏の博士論文に盗用があったことが明らかになると、博士号を授与した早稲田大に対する批判が強まった。早稲田大は小保方氏の学位審査の不備を認めた。

Not only Waseda but also other universities need to inspect their systems for deciding on the conferment of degrees, and acknowledge once again the significance of teaching students basic rules for research activities.
　各大学は、審査体制を点検し、研究の基本ルールを教える重要性を再認識する必要がある。

This summer, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry compiled new guidelines to prevent research misconduct that incorporate the enhancement of education on ethics. The guidelines should be used effectively to help young people undertake research with a sincere and serious attitude and develop flexible thinking.
　文部科学省は今夏、倫理教育の充実を盛り込んだ研究不正防止の新指針を策定した。若者が、真摯しんしな姿勢で研究に取り組み、柔軟な発想力を伸ばしていくために、有効に機能させたい。

The articles on STAP cells made headlines in news media around the world as a discovery that defied common wisdom because they were carried by a prestigious British science journal.
　ＳＴＡＰ論文は、権威ある英科学誌に掲載されたため、世界のメディアが、常識を覆す発見として大きく取り上げた。

However, we must remember that, when such articles are published, a new discovery is still no more than a hypothesis. While maintaining an attitude of cautious self-criticism, we pledge to report science news in a level-headed manner.
　だが、論文発表の時点では、仮説の域を出ないことに留意せねばならない。自戒を込め、冷静な科学報道を心がけたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 20, 2014)Speech