Saleh Heneidi et al at UCLA have reported in PLOS One the isolation of pluripotent stem cells from adult adipose (fat) tissue. By stressing the tissue they killed off all of the cells in the fat tissue except the Multilineage Differentiating Stress-Enduring (Muse) Cells. These cells behave in cell culture in a manner reminiscent of embryonic stem cells and tests reveal that they can differentiate into mesenchymal, endodermal and ectodermal cell lineages. It is clear that these are very primal cells and hold the potential of making any type of tissue. This is clearly a very exciting step.
An interesting side note to the article, these were discovered by accident when a piece of equipment failed in the lab, killing most of the cells in the cell culture, but leaving the Multilineage Differentiating Stress-Enduring (Muse) Cells alive.