There's simply no doubt if this is true that that's a startling and astonishing scientific accomplishment.

It's also intensely alarming from an ethical perspective.

Scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells, in a groundbreaking advance that sidesteps the need for eggs or sperm.

Scientists say these model embryos, which resemble those in the earliest stages of human development, could provide a crucial window on the impact of genetic disorders and the biological causes of recurrent miscarriage.

At present the embryos "do not have a beating heart or the beginnings of a brain," but they include "cells that would typically go on to form the placenta, yolk sac and the embryo itself." No doubt the research will progress past this in rapid order.

To be sure, if we were able to find causes — and more importantly cures — for genetic disorders and miscarriages, that would be a tremendously good thing.

If those breakthroughs come at the expense of innocent human lives, bio-engineered solely to serve as test subjects, that would be an extremely bad thing.

The ends don't justify the means, especially where human beings are concerned.