Former University of Tokyo researcher Shigeaki Kato has notched his 26th, 27th, and 28th retractions, all in Nature Cell Biology. The three papers have been cited a total of 677 times.
Here’s the notice for “DEAD-box RNA helicase subunits of the Drosha complex are required for processing of rRNA and a subset of microRNAs:”
Although we believe that the key finding and conclusions are still valid, recently detected image manipulation in the published figures undermines our full confidence in the integrity of the study. We therefore wish to retract this Letter. We wish to acknowledge that the co-authors from collaborating groups (M.N., H.E., T.K., C.F. and B.W.O’M.) were not involved in the figure preparation.
We deeply regret any inconvenience this retraction may cause.
The paper has been cited an impressive 234 times, according to Thomson Scientific’s Web of Knowledge.
Image manipulation? Shades of Haeckel’s embryos! Did they do retractions in Haeckel’s day?
See also: Peer review; At Discover Magazine, Neuroskeptic asks whether science can work without trust.
Follow UD News at Twitter!