Hela Cells: The Story Behind The Hela Cell

HeLa is a cell type in an immortal cell line used in scientific research. It is the oldest and most commonly used human cell line. There was a story behind the HeLa cell besides that fact that it was an immortal cell. This immortal cell once came from a mortal cell; an African American woman by the name of Henrietta Lacks. She visited John Hopkins Hospital after an abnormality in her cervix, later found out she had cervical cancer. After the death of Henrietta, scientists did extensive research on her tumor. This was the rise of the immortal cell, meanwhile Henrietta’s family had no knowledge of the research. When the family uncovered the truth about the HeLa cell, many questions accumulated from her family. They believed that Henrietta’s cells …show more content…
The scientist that founded the HeLa cell was a man by the name of George Gey. Dr. Gey had been researching the cells for a short amount of time before he had lent the cells to one of his colleagues. The cycle continued as his colleagues sent the cells everywhere. The HeLa cells had made the headlines of many magazines with the mystery woman name as Helen Lane, while the Lacks family had no knowledge of it. HeLa cells have been produced a factor were millions of HeLa cells were being created a day. Many institutes and research centers bought these cells, the company were making profit from every vial. Many cures have been found by the use of HeLa cells, such as a polio vaccination and some cures for …show more content…
Bobbette Lacks, (Lawrence’s wife) heard about the cells from a co-worker. Everyone within the Lacks family was shocked and took the news differently. Lawrence and Sonny only saw the money side of things; they were left with nothing from their mother. While Zakariyya and Deborah only cared about figuring out who their mother used to be. The Lacks family believe that the HeLa cells belonged to Henrietta, even though they did not understand what a cell was. Although many scientist handling with the HeLa cells, the question of ownership of these cells concerned the family. Yes, the HeLa cells belonged to Henrietta when she was still alive, but the HeLa cells have been rapidly multiplying that there is not a trace of Henrietta’s DNA within them. Also when Henrietta signed consent, she gave her tissues to the doctor and they could do whatever they wish with them. There should have been some compensation for the family, as Henrietta’s lacked education led her to sign consent without any knowledge. Within the twenty first century, those that do not understand a legal document that needed to be thoroughly read and signed, requires a translator. This was the wrong doing of the hospital, not the scientist that received the