Synthetic Organism

The technology to create Synthetic Organisms, or SynthOrgs for short, was successfully done in 2011 by Volkov Industries. SynthOrgs are grown in vats based on a DNA sample called a template. A template may be an exact clone of someone, but more often they are created from multiple samples mixed together. Most SynthOrgs are human, but other species are possible. The exact process used to create and grow the organism needs to be tailored to that species to some degree and each one presents their own challenges.
Most SynthOrgs are implanted with a control chip in their brain early in the growth process. Most SynthOrgs are built for a specific task with a template designed to for it and Volkov wants absolute obedience. These chips are not always perfect and sometimes malfunction. Often these malfunctions result in death, but occationally they will simply stop working and allow the SynthOrg to act as they please.
Many of these "Employees" of Volkov are fitted with further cybernetic augmentations for a task. Others are grown to be used as subjects for medical experiments. While in the growth vat, information can be implanted into the subject's brain so they will not require any training for the task they were made for. The growth process is accelerated while inside of the vat. It takes about 8 months or so to go from a SynthOrg's inital "conception" to being the equivlient of about 18 years old.
This technology found its way outside of Volkov's sole ownership around 2020. There are many groups just as nefarious as Volkov that create SynthOrgs for their own ends. Some nations have outlawed the creation of SynthOrgs entirely within their own borders. A less ill-intentioned use of the techology is in aiding couples who are otherwise unable to have a child of their own. These Vat Children are usually removed from the growth vat when they have reached the typical growth of a newborn child.