The executive summary of the Aquatic Research Program (Sheehan et al., 1998)— a nearly two decade effort supported by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop biofuel from algae—stated that ‘‘The common thread among the studies showing increased oil production under stress seems to be the observed cessation of cell division... The increased oil content of the algae does not lead to increased overall productivity of oil. In fact, overall rates of oil production are lower during periods of nutrient deficiency.’’