The manuscript ‘Genetically modified soya bean in rabbit feeding: detection of DNA fragments and evaluation of metabolic effects by enzymatic analysis’ by R. Tudisco, P. Lombardi, F. Bovera, D. dˇAngelo, M. I. Cutrignelli, V. Mastellone, V. Terzi, L. Avallone and F. Infascelli was submitted to Animal Science on 18 July 2005. After peer-review and revision, it was accepted for publication on 1 December 2005 and published in 2006.
From November 2015, we received several expressions of concern from third parties that the electrophoresis gels presented might have been subject to unwarranted digital manipulations and that the detailed legend of Figure 2 differs from that published in a thesis associated with the research. A detailed independent investigation was carried out by animal, the successor of Animal Science, in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. The authors were notified of our concerns and asked to account for the observed irregularities. After reviewing the authors’ replies, we have asked the University of Naples to investigate further. Until we learn the outcome of the investigation, we feel it is best to post this Expression of Concern to alert our readers that concerns about this article have been raised.
