Ethical concerns surround the announcement that scientists have grown ‘embryo-like entities’ in the laboratory. A team led by Cambridge Professor Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz claims to have created ‘model’ human embryos without sperm or eggs. The ‘models’ were made by scientists using a single embryonic stem cell, the ‘harvesting’ of which involved the destruction of a fertilised human egg. Last year, start-up company Renewal Bio declared its intention to create ‘mini human clones’, harnessing techniques already used to create mouse ’embryos’ in the laboratory. The firm, co-founded by the controversial biologist Professor Jacob Hanna, claims it wants to “make humanity younger and healthier” by using ‘synthetic’ human embryos to make organs and proper tissue for transplantation.

Source: The Guardian June 23, 2023 13:39 UTC