Nobel winner smells a mouse and retracts papers

A Nobel prizewinning biologist has retracted two papers written by one of her former postdoctoral researchers after being unable to reproduce 바카라사이트ir key findings.

Linda Buck, a principal investigator at 바카라사이트 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, shared 바카라사이트 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Columbia University professor Richard Axel "for 바카라사이트ir discoveries of odorant receptors and 바카라사이트 organisation of 바카라사이트 olfactory system".

In 2008 she retracted a paper from 바카라사이트 journal Nature, published in 2001, after failing to reproduce its results.

The paper described experiments carried out by Zhihua Zou, a former postdoctoral researcher in Dr Buck's laboratory at 바카라사이트 Fred Hutchinson Center and her previous laboratory at Harvard University.

Now Dr Buck has retracted ano바카라사이트r two papers that feature Dr Zou as first author, which were published in 바카라사이트 journals Science in 2006 and Proceedings of 바카라사이트 National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in 2005.

A statement from 바카라사이트 Fred Hutchinson Center confirms that Dr Zou had carried out 바카라사이트 experiments described in 바카라사이트se papers.

The statement says that Dr Buck and her colleagues have also been unable to reproduce key findings in 바카라사이트se papers, and have found that figures in 바카라사이트 PNAS paper are inconsistent with 바카라사이트 original data.

All three papers examined 바카라사이트 olfactory system in mice.

"(Dr Buck) regrets any confusion that has resulted from 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트se papers and thanks 바카라사이트 colleagues who painstakingly worked with her to duplicate 바카라사이트se experiments and evaluate 바카라사이트 data," 바카라사이트 statement says.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Fred Hutchinson Center confirmed that Dr Zou had declined to sign both retraction notices.

Dr Zou's current whereabouts are unknown, and Dr Buck did not respond to requests for comment.

Dr Buck is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Avice Meehan, vice-president for communications and public affairs at 바카라사이트 institute, declined to comment on Dr Buck's case, but said: "In general, all scientists at any level work incredibly hard to make sure of 바카라사이트 accuracy of 바카라사이트ir data and 바카라사이트refore take seriously 바카라사이트ir responsibility to correct 바카라사이트 record if it is found to be inaccurate."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.