Scientists create synthetic human embryos using stem cells in major breakthrough

Scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells in a major scientific breakthrough

Experts believe the development could provide insight into causes of miscarriages and unique aspects of human development but also raises ethical and legal questions.

Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, from the University of Cambridge and California Institute of Technology, described fostering the embryos to a stage just beyond the equivalent of 14 days of development for a natural embryo at the International Society for Stem Cell Research's annual meeting in Boston on Wednesday.