A U.S. daily says the journal Science is also partially responsible for the fraud scandal surrounding stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said in a Friday editorial that something was amiss with Science's review of Hwang's thesis on stem cells, adding the magazine could have prevented damage to the University of Pittsburgh and Seoul National University through a stricter verification process.

The editorial said Science and other journals must adopt better methods for spotting fraud and other problems before damage occurs, urging them not to be passive onlookers that simply publish research but be a critical checkpoint for assuring accuracy.

Meanwhile, Science's deputy editor for life sciences Katrina Kelner defended the journal's review process, saying six experts instead of the usual one or two thoroughly evaluated Hwang's paper.