Stem cells | Prof. Marius Wernig and company have discovered how to turn a mouse skin cell directly into a nerve cell — eliminating the need to go through a stem cell stage. They published their findings last week in Nature. “The fact that we’re able to do this is extremely stunning.”

Special fees | The ASSU Undergraduate Senate last night approved revisions to special fees funding policies; the Mock Trial financial officer took issue, and a former Appropriations Committee chair said student groups could end up asking for more money — perhaps much more — in this spring’s election.

Heads of state, city | The prime minister of Lithuania stopped by the GSB yesterday. The former mayor of Palo Alto, who happens to be a GSB alumna, also visited. Now she’s running for state assembly.

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