Synthetic embryo

World’s first ‘synthetic embryo’ developed without sperm or egg

biologists have grown mouse embryo models in the lab without the need for fertilised eggs, embryos, or even a mouse – using only stem cells and a special incubator.

This achievement, published in the journal Cell by a team led by researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, is a very sophisticated model of what happens during early mouse embryo development – in the stage just after implantation.

This is a crucial stage for pregnancy, as, during this stage, a lot of human pregnancies are lost. If the trials for developing a human embryo without using any sperm or eggs, can nullify the need for sperm or egg donors for ARTs and make strides in medical reproductive practices.