By Barbara Pfeffer Billauer
A synthetic embryo can now be constructed from very early pre-embryonic cells – without the need for an egg or sperm. These were initially created in mice. In April, researchers in China published about their creation of synthetic monkey embryos. In June, it was reported that the first synthetic human models were apparently created. This development throws a moral monkey-wrench into the current moratoria on embryonic research after 14 days. But there are more problems ahead.