The five most-read stories on Scope this week were:
U.S. District Court rules that stem cells are drugs: This week, the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, ruled that a person's own cultured stem cells are drugs subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The decision has important implications for an ongoing argument between the FDA and Colorado-based Regenerative Sciences as well as issues surrounding Texas-based Celltex.
Zebras with different stripes: One patient's story: Inspire contributor Heather Pierce writes about her experience with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a unique condition that is often misdiagnosed because it exhibits itself differently across patients.
Researchers develop first software simulation of an entire organism: Scientists at Stanford have produced a complete computational model of the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium. Researchers hope the work yields new insights into basic cellular principles and vastly speed up the scientific process.
No clowning around: How clown-educators are increasing HIV awareness in Guatemala: A Q&A with Anthony Savdie, project coordinator for Asociacion Payasos Atz'anem K'oj, about the organization's efforts to increase awareness of HIV and other sexual-health issues through clown performances.
International AIDS Conference Day Three: Daring to talk about a cure: On the third day of the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC, scientists discuss antiretroviral therapies, viral eradication and something almost unthinkable a few years ago: a cure.
