The Mother of Modern Medicine: Henrietta Lacks and the Debate Over HeLa Cells
The Immortal Cell Was Born
A biopsy of tissue taken during Henrietta Lacks’ treatments was given to Dr. George Gey for studies. Dr. Gey, his wife, and his team had been attempting to grow human cells outside the body for decades. While studying Lacks’ cells, Dr. Gey noticed the cells did not die, in fact, the cells doubled every 20-24 hours, unlike any other cells Dr. Gey had studied. Lacks’ cells, named HeLa cells after the first two letters in her first and last name, were the first immortal human cell line discovered.
Dr. George Gey. Ca. 1940. The University of Pittsburg.
The Geys were determined to grow the first immortal human cells: a continuously dividing line of cells all descended from one original sample, cells that would constantly replenish themselves and never die.
-Rebecca Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
HeLa Cells. 1951. British Society for Immunology.
A HeLa Caner Cell Dividing. Ca. 2020. Smithsonian Magazine.
The Metaphase Stage of a Human HeLa Cell Division. Ca. 2020. Smithsonian Magazine.
The HeLa cell line has promoted medical achievements without testing directly on humans. HeLa cells have been used in virous research, vaccine creation, cancer treatment, curses for infectious disease, and many other medical advancments which have improved lives.