When Scientists Go Bad

In 2005, the Office of Research Integrity received 265 allegations of scientific misconduct. Journal editors have stated that there is little that can be done practically to intercept the misconduct by scientists. The scientists that attempt to fabricate or falsify results usually do not make sophisticated attempts to cover up evidence and tend to falsify portions of emails or use photo-manipulation software to change the appearance of images.

Even Gregor Mendel is thought to have altered the results of his pea experiments. One of the most barefaced deceptions happened in the 1970s when William Summerlin used a black permanent marker on white mice to give the appearance that skin transplants from black mice had been successful.