Scientists achieve groundbreaking feat with creation of synthetic human embryo.

Scientists have created the world's first human synthetic embryos from stem cells without using sperm or eggs. These embryo-like structures lack organs such as a beating heart or a brain, but include cells that would typically go on to form the placenta, yolk sac and the embryo itself. The research raises legal and ethical questions, as many countries currently lack regulations looking at the creation and manipulation of synthetic embryos. There is an urgent need for regulations to provide a framework for the creation and use of stem cell-derived models of human embryos.