Scientists create world’s first ‘synthetic embryos’

Researchers use stem cells from mice to form embryo-like structures with intestinal tract, beginnings of a brain, and a beating heart

Researchers have created the world's first synthetic embryos" in a groundbreaking feat that bypassed the need for sperm, eggs and fertilisation.

Scientists at the Weizmann Institute in Israel found that stem cells from mice could be made to self-assemble into early embryo-like structures with an intestinal tract, the beginnings of a brain, and a beating heart.