Scientists from the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology have created the first synthetic human model embryo without using eggs or sperm cells. Details of the research are scanty at the moment but it appears the embryos are only a few days or weeks old. The embryos were made from embryonic stem cells without the fusion of eggs and sperm cells.
Stem cells could differentiate into any type of cells in the body and could be reprogrammed to form embryos as well. It is believed that the creation of the synthetic embryo may shed more light on the early developmental processes in humans.
Despite this initial success, many are skeptical about its clinical applications due to ethical and legal concerns.
The embryos lacks a beating heart and brain. Previously, a synthetic mouse embryo with a beating heart and brain had been created. It is not clear what rules will govern the research involving synthetic embryos.
ASVEK Science & Tech 