The five most-read posts on Scope this week were:
Stanford joins first human embryonic stem cell trial: The School of Medicine announces its participation in the first human embryonic stem cell trial in paralyzed humans. Stanford has partnered with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for the trial, which is run by Menlo Park-based company Geron Corp.
The indefatigable Jack LaLanne: Known as the "godfather of American fitness," Jack Lalanne passed away this week at the age of 96. In this Q&A published three years ago in Stanford Medicine, LaLanne talks about the power of fitness to transform lives.
Are Happy Meals illegal? A public health lawyer says, yes: San Francisco recently enacted strict nutrient guidelines for meals sold with toys, essentially banning McDonald's Happy Meals from the city. Bay Area public health lawyer Michele Simon examines kids' meals from a completely different angle and poses the question: Do Happy Meals break the law by marketing to small children?
A Gaga-ish take on graduate student life: A parody of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" was created by science students at the Baylor College of Medicine's Molecular and Human Genetics Retreat 2011.
Genetics study could lead to development of better wine, table grapes: Researchers have completed the most comprehensive genetic analysis to date of the domesticated grape. Lead author Sean Myles, PhD, a Stanford postdoctoral research scientist who conducted the study while at Cornell's Institute for Genomic Diversity, discusses the findings.
