Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks (pronounced: hen-ree-ET-uh laks) was an African-American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized human cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research.
Etymology
The name "Henrietta Lacks" is derived from her given name, Henrietta, and her married name, Lacks. The HeLa cell line is named after the first two letters of her first and last name.
Biography
Henrietta Lacks was born on August 1, 1920, in Roanoke, Virginia. In 1951, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. During her treatment, a sample of her cancer cells was taken without her knowledge or consent. These cells would later become the HeLa cell line.
HeLa Cell Line
The HeLa cell line is a line of cells that continue to divide indefinitely in a laboratory setting, making them "immortal." These cells have been used in a wide range of medical research, including the development of the polio vaccine, cancer research, and studies of cell biology and genetics.
Legacy
The story of Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cell line has raised important ethical questions about consent, privacy, and the use of human biological materials in research. Her story has been the subject of numerous articles, books, and a movie, all of which have contributed to ongoing discussions about these issues in the scientific community and beyond.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Henrietta Lacks
- Wikipedia's article - Henrietta Lacks
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