The five most-read posts on Scope this week were:
Thanks, mom: A biologist's Mother's Day song: A video of Stanford biology student Adam Cole performing an original song thanking his mother for her genetic contributions.
Stanford researchers help awaken sleeping egg-producing cells: In a study appearing in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Stanford researchers show how they were able to activate dormant egg-producing cells - a development that might someday help improve fertility in women.
Venter's "synthetic life" is a different disc in an old player (but it's still music): Human-genome-sequencing pioneer Craig Venter, PhD, and his group announce they've reconstructed the known genome of a bacterial organism, Mycoplasma mycoides.
Reprogramming cells in the brain to repair damage from stroke or injury: A study published this week in the Public Library of Science Biology details how German researchers developed a technique for transforming support cells in the brain called astroglia into functioning neurons.
Probiotic yogurt might help reduce common infections among children: A Georgetown University study found children who consumed a probiotic yogurt-like drink had 24 percent fewer gastrointestinal infections and 18 percent fewer upper respiratory infections than children who were getting regular yogurt.
The Grand Roundup is posted every Saturday.
