The Biggest Fraud in Stem Cell History @Sciencerely

Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

In 2014, the world of science was shaken by an unprecedented fraud. So, what really happened to shatter the dreams of a Nobel Prize and became a dark chapter for stem cell research? This is the story of STAP cells.

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Let’s set the scene. It’s the early 2000s. Japan has become a powerhouse in stem cell research. Stem cells are cells that form our bodies during development. Back in the day, stem cells could only be isolated from embryos. In 2006, Yamanaka and Takahashi demonstrated how we can make stem cells from skin cells. Through the introduction of 4 genes (oct4, sox2, klf4, c-myc) they converted skin cells into pluripotent stem cells. For this discovery, Yamanaka later won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Haruko Obokata was a japanese scientists who tried to develop another method to make stem cells. She teamed up with Charles Vacanti who theorized that stem cells can be made through stress. When Obokata bathed body cells in mild acid, she claimed to have produced stem cells. She refined this method and STAP cells were born. Later, they approached
Teruhiko Wakayama and Yoshiki Sasai. Both helped them and in 2013 "STAP Cells" were finally published. In the first weeks, STAP cells seemed like a huge success. But the scientific community soon discovered manipulations in the presented images. RIKEN, the institute where Obokata was hosted launched an internal investigation. They concluded that the STAP cell works have to be retracted and Obokata lost her position. RIKEN had to undergo reconstruction due to the lasting public outcry which ultimately affected everyone involved. Today, STAP cells are considered as one of the biggest scandals in stem cell research.

00:00-3:35 The Japanese Stem Cell Wonder
3:35-7:53 Fabricating the Discovery of the Century
7:53-13:10 How Everyone Found Out
13:10-15:37 The Devastating Aftermath

References:
Brilliant Article:
newyorker.com/magazine/2016/02/29/the-stem-cell-scandal
Other STAP Cell Stories:
science.org/content/article/sleuthing-sheds-light-stap-cell-fiasco
nature.com/articles/nature12969#supplementary-information
RIKEN Investigation: www3.riken.jp/stap/e/c13document5.pdf
nature.com/articles/nature.2015.18412
nature.com/articles/nature.2014.14974
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11948-015-9628-2
More About Stem Cells:
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867406009767
link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13287-019-1165-5

Images:
Some pictures were derived from Servier Medical Art by Servier. You can find over 3000 free medical images here: smart.servier.com
Videos were derived from videvo.net, mixkit.co and videezy.com
Microscope 01, H1N1 Virus , Dusty Film Leader , Film Leader, A Luna Blue, videvo.net
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Infected cells by Beachfront, CC-BY 3.0

About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a PhD student/youtuber (Sciencerely) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.

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$5 Incredible Human Mutations 🔬 Subscribe for more awesome biomedical research: https://bit.ly/2SRMqhC 🔬 Ready for awesome scientific discussion?! Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/9VKnTSF 0:00 - How Mutations arise 1:07 - No need to Sleep 2:34 - Unbreakable Bones 4:02 - Lactose Tolerance 5:43 - Malaria Resistance 7:29 - Super Sprinters Mutations occur in humans all the time. Some mutations (which happen in egg or sperm cells) can be passed down to future generations.Most of these mutations are harmful and cause genetic diseases, but some can give us superhero like abilities. Incredible sleeping schedule: People with mutations in DEC2 often only need 4-5 hours of sleep. DEC2 is also often called the Thatcher gene after Margaret Thatcher. This gene is involved in natural biological clocks which make us feel awake during the day and sleepy at night. If we look at the function of DEC2 we see that it produces a protein which blocks the production of orexin. Mutations in DEC2 decrease its function meaning that people need much less sleep. Super strong bones: Certain mutations in a gene called LRP5 increase bone density in humans. Affected people say that they have never experienced bone fractures. On a molecular level, certain mutations in LRP5 increase its signalling, thereby telling cells to make bones more dense. Milk Lovers: Lactose tolerance has evolved roughly 10 000 years ago. While all infants and children are normally able to drink milk and eat dairy products, certain mutations near the gene lactase enable efficient dairy product digestion throughout life. This was especially useful in the recent evolutionary history of humankind since it enabled the intake of additional calories during periods of starvation. Malaria resistance: Malaria is a fatal disease which is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium enters the bloodstream through mosquito bites and destroys red blood cells afterwards. Certain mutations change the shape and properties of red blood cells, thereby hindering Plasmodium from entering. Prominent mutations (sickle cell allele) might also lead to dramatic diseases such as sickle cell anemia. Super sprinters: Some people are able to run faster through a genetic variation in the gene ACTN3. This gene is involved in the function of muscle fibers. ACTN3 577R shortens post-exercise muscle damage and injury risk. For your further research: He, Ying, et al. The transcriptional repressor DEC2 regulates sleep length in mammals. Science 325.5942 (2009): 866-870. Little, Randall D., et al. A mutation in the LDL receptor–related protein 5 gene results in the autosomal dominant high–bone-mass trait. The American Journal of Human Genetics 70.1 (2002): 11-19. Pickering, Craig, and John Kiely. ACTN3: more than just a gene for speed. Frontiers in physiology 8 (2017): 1080. Piel, Frédéric B., et al. Global distribution of the sickle cell gene and geographical confirmation of the malaria hypothesis. Nature communications 1.1 (2010): 1-7. Lomer, M. C. E., Parkes, G. C., & Sanderson, J. D. (2008). lactose intolerance in clinical practice–myths and realities. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 27(2), 93-103. Images: Some pictures were derived from Servier Medical Art by Servier. You can find over 3000 free medical images here: https://smart.servier.com/ Music: Intro: Light Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Transitions: Light Thought var 3 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: http://incompetech.com/ About Clemens Steinek: CLEMENS STEINEK is a postgraduate student/youtuber (LifeLabLearner) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.$

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