The fat was stored outside the cell walls, making it easier to extract without first killing the algae.

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Now, the Stanford study has shown fat cells can be a player in the quickly evolving area of iPS stem cell research, not because they have their own stem cells but because the fat cells can be turned into iPS cells.

CNN: Study: Human fat yields multipurpose stem cells

"Fat makes extra hormones, which lead to extra cell activity and extra abnormal cell activity, " she said.

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"When it comes to breast cancer risks, the extra fat in obesity leads to extra estrogen production, which can lead to extra breast cell growth, including abnormal breast cell growths, " she said.

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Notable losers in May included BioTime, a regenerative medicine firm run by Michael West, who was one of the key figures in the early days of embryonic stem cell research, and Cytori Therapeutics, which is trying to commercialize stem cells found in fat for breast reconstruction and other uses.

FORBES: Biotech Busts And Breakthroughs In May