Leading article: Clones, cons and censorship
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The great cons have always worked because they give people what they want to believe. And there is nothing that the scientific community and the public at large have wanted as much a breakthrough in cloning that would progress the search for a cure for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Which helps to explain why the apparent discoveries of the now-disgraced South Korean scientist, Hwang Woo-suk, were so readily believed. And it is why the South Koreans were so embarrassed by the revelation that he had faked his results when this came to light in 2005.
What it doesn't explain is how it did come to light. It was not because of scientific peer review but because South Korean television took up the cause. Even then the government stepped in to stop its broadcast halfway through on the grounds that it undermined the country's reputation. Indeed it did, which is why a free press is so needed and why it should be given its right to roam.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments