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Henrietta's cells were taken during her treatment for cervical cancer from "summary" of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Henrietta Lacks was a poor African American tobacco farmer who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the 1950s. During her treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital, a doctor took a sample of her cancer cells without her knowledge or consent. These cells, known as HeLa cells, were the first human cells to be successfully grown in a laboratory setting and have since become one of the most important tools in medical research. The doctor who took Henrietta's cells, Dr. George Gey, was trying to find a way to grow cells outside the body for research purposes. He had been unsuccessful with previous attempts using other cells, but Henrietta's cells thrived and multiplied rapidly. This breakthrough was a game changer for medical science, as it allowed researchers to conduct experiments and develop treatments without having to rely solely on animal testing. The remarkable thing about Henrietta's cells was their ability to divide and grow indefinitely, unlike normal human cells which have a limited lifespan. This made them incredibly valuable for scientific research, as they could be used for a wide range of experiments and studies. HeLa cells have been instrumental in the development of vaccines, cancer treatments, and many other medical breakthroughs. Despite the immense contribution that Henrietta's cells have made to science, her family was unaware of their existence for many years. It wasn't until the 1970s that they learned about the HeLa cells and the role that Henrietta had played in their creation. This revelation was a shock to the Lacks family, who had never been consulted or compensated for the use of Henrietta's cells. The story of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells raises important ethical questions about consent, privacy, and the commercialization of human tissue. It highlights the need for greater awareness and regulation in the field of medical research to ensure that patients are treated with respect and their rights are protected. Henrietta's legacy lives on through her HeLa cells, which continue to be used in laboratories around the world for the advancement of science and medicine.
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