Replicated Synthetic Lifeforms

Genetics in the universe has advanced to the point where most species are in no danger of becoming extinct or dying off, due to perfection of cloning. Genetic engineering, genetic manipulation, genetic re-sequencing, are all standardized technologies and procedures. With the advent of accelerated growth programs, and flash neural memory implantation, modified genetic clones are a practical possibility.
Many corporations in the Imperium Stellaris use these techniques. A few, such as GenIE Corp, have made these techniques into viable business that brings in billions of mega-credits each quarter.
Thus the rise of the Replicated Synthetic Lifeforms, or RSL for short. Replicated Synthetic Lifeforms are created and are totally artificially grown in laboratory settings and bio-factories.
Synth or Replicant are a few of the more polite slang terms for an RSL. Vat-born and Clone-job are some of the not so nice slang terms for an RSL.
A biological genetic instability arises between the cloning process and accelerated growth process causing such genetically manipulated specimens to be sterile once achieving maturity.