Due to Ethics Concerns, US Journal Retracts 18 Genetics Studies Conducted in China on Minority Groups

SAN FRANCISCO—A leading genetics science journal has retracted 18 papers written by Chinese authors. It was the largest mass retraction to date due to concerns about human rights violations. All the retracted papers were published between 2019 and 2021 in the genetics journal Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine (MGGM), published by the U.S. academic publishing company Wiley. The mass retraction was made through an agreement between the journal’s editor-in-chief, Suzanne Hart, and Wiley Periodicals LLC, after an investigation that found “inconsistencies between the consent documentation and the research reported,” according to the retraction documentation. In several cases, DNA samples used in research were collected from minority ethnic groups, including Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongolians, populations deemed by experts and human rights campaigners to be vulnerable to exploitation and oppression in China....