Who Was Henrietta Lacks? ScienceAlert: In 1951, Her Cells were Taken and Changed Medicine forever: ScienceAlert

Henrietta Lacks immortal cells have been used to develop the polio vaccination, gene mapping, and cloning.

Her family has never benefited from the use of these items, as they were collected by her without her consent.

This week Lacks’ family A settlement has been reached with Massachusetts-based firm Thermo Fisher Scientific over their commercial use of the cells – dubbed HeLa cells after the first letters of Lacks’ name.

Why is it such a big case? Here’s a tragic tale that will help those who don’t know the story.

Henrietta Lacks, a mother who had five children and died from cervical cancer CancerShe was 31 years of age on 4th October 1951.

Lacks was an African-American tobacco farmer who was being treated by the John Hopkins Hospital. Without her knowledge or consent, two samples were taken from her cervix, one of which contained a healthy portion and another containing cancerous tissue.

Dr George Otto Gey discovered that these cells could be kept alive indefinitely and continue to grow.

Cells had previously only survived in the laboratory for a few weeks.

Gey isolated a specific cell to create the first immortal cell line. HeLa.

Since then, these cells have been sent into space, exposed to radiation, viruses, and toxins. They’ve also been replicated innumerable times..

They have contributed to thousands of medical advances, such as the polio virus vaccine, gene mapping and cloning.

In 2014, scientists had produced around 20 tons HeLa cells and almost 11,000 patents.

According to one researcher,If you laid out all of the HeLa cell in existence, they would wrap around the globe at least three time.

In 2010, HeLa cell tubes were selling for $10. For around US$260.

Henrietta’s Family was not compensated.Most of them couldn’t afford insurance.

Journalist Rebecca Skloot has written a best-selling novel The Immortal life of Henrietta LacksIn 2010, the topic was discussed.

After reading the article, Dr Roland Pattillo from the Morehouse Medical School in the US donated Lacks a gravestone. Since her death, her grave has been left unmarked.

The headstone is in the shape of a book and reads:

Henrietta Lacks,

August 01, 1920 – October 04, 1951.

In loving memory to a woman who was a wife, mother and a remarkable woman. She touched many lives.

Here lies Henrietta Lacks (HeLa). Her immortal cell will help mankind forever.

Your Family’s Love and Respect for You Eternally

Thank you, Henrietta.

More about HeLa cellsYou can also read about the You can also find out more about the settlements by clicking here..

The first version of this article appeared in April 2014.