Scientists Create Synthetic Embryos from Monkey Stem Cells

Chinese researchers have successfully grown embryo-like models using monkey stem cells, which when implanted in surrogate monkey 'mothers' appear to progress through the earliest stages of gestation. The scientists exposed macaque embryonic stem cells in a cell culture to a careful selection of growth factors, which proceeded to form embryo-like structures known as blastoids. Several of these blastoids progressed to form a yolk sac and amnion. The embryo-like structures successfully implanted in three of the surrogate mothers, forming early gestation sacs that lasted a week or more after transplantation.