Imagine something so tiny it can float on a speck of dust, yet holds the secrets to understanding cancer, viruses, and genetics. This remarkable entity exists as trillions of lab-grown human cells known as HeLa cells.
Scientists cultivate human cells in laboratories to explore their functions, comprehend disease development, and test new treatments without risking human lives. To ensure consistent results, researchers need large populations of identical cells that can replicate over long periods. However, before 1951, all human cell lines died within days.
That changed when George Gey, a scientist at Johns Hopkins, received a sample of a unique tumor. This tumor was dark purple, shiny, and jelly-like, and its cells had an extraordinary ability to divide indefinitely. When individual cells perished, new generations replaced them, creating an endless supply of identical cells. This was the first immortal human cell line, named “HeLa” after the patient, Henrietta Lacks, from whom the tumor originated.
Henrietta Lacks was born on a tobacco farm in Virginia and later lived in Baltimore with her husband and five children. She succumbed to aggressive cervical cancer a few months after her tumor cells were harvested, unaware of their significance.
Why do Henrietta Lacks’ cells survive when others do not? The answer remains partly mysterious. Normal human cells have mechanisms that limit their division to about 50 times before undergoing apoptosis, a self-destruct process that prevents genetic errors. Cancer cells, however, bypass these signals, dividing endlessly and overtaking normal cells. While most cell lines eventually die, especially outside the human body, HeLa cells continue to thrive, a phenomenon still not fully understood.
Upon realizing he had the first immortal human cell line, Dr. Gey distributed HeLa samples to labs worldwide. This led to the establishment of the first cell production facility, generating 6 trillion HeLa cells weekly. Scientists used these cells extensively, raising ethical issues as they built careers and fortunes without the consent or knowledge of Henrietta or her family until decades later.
During the 1950s polio epidemic, HeLa cells, which easily absorbed and replicated the virus, enabled Jonas Salk to test his vaccine. They have been instrumental in studying diseases like measles, mumps, HIV, and Ebola. A scientist working with HeLa cells discovered a chemical that makes chromosomes visible, revealing that human cells have 46 chromosomes, while HeLa cells have around 80 highly mutated ones.
HeLa cells were the first to be cloned and have even ventured into space. The enzyme telomerase, which helps cancer cells evade destruction by repairing their DNA, was first identified in HeLa cells. Thanks to HeLa, we now know that cervical cancer can be caused by the HPV virus, leading to the development of a vaccine.
HeLa cells have fueled thousands of scientific papers, likely more than recorded. They are so resilient that they can travel on almost any surface, from a lab worker’s hand to a dust particle, invading other cell cultures and proliferating like weeds. Countless cures, patents, and discoveries owe their existence to the immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks.
Engage in a hands-on lab activity where you will culture HeLa cells. Observe their growth patterns and compare them with other cell lines. Document your findings and discuss the implications of HeLa cells’ unique properties in a group presentation.
Analyze the ethical issues surrounding the use of HeLa cells. Review historical documents and current ethical guidelines to prepare a report on how Henrietta Lacks’ case has influenced modern research ethics. Present your conclusions in a class debate.
Select a scientific paper that utilized HeLa cells for a breakthrough discovery. Summarize the research, its impact, and the role of HeLa cells. Share your insights in a written report and discuss the paper’s significance in a seminar.
Create an interactive timeline that traces the history and major scientific contributions of HeLa cells. Include key events, discoveries, and ethical milestones. Present your timeline to the class, highlighting the ongoing influence of HeLa cells in research.
Watch a documentary about Henrietta Lacks and the impact of HeLa cells. Reflect on the personal and scientific narratives presented. Participate in a guided discussion to explore the broader implications of her story on society and science.
Imagine something small enough to float on a particle of dust that holds the keys to understanding cancer, virology, and genetics. Luckily for us, such a thing exists in the form of trillions of human lab-grown cells called HeLa.
Scientists grow human cells in the lab to study how they function, understand how diseases develop, and test new treatments without endangering patients. To ensure that they can repeat these experiments and compare results with other scientists, they need large populations of identical cells that can replicate themselves faithfully for years. However, until 1951, all human cell lines that researchers tried to grow died after a few days.
Then, a scientist named George Gey at Johns Hopkins received a sample of a unique tumor: dark purple, shiny, and jelly-like. This sample was special because some of its cells kept dividing indefinitely. When individual cells died, generations of copies took their place and thrived, resulting in an endless source of identical cells that is still available today. This was the first immortal human cell line, which Gey labeled “HeLa” after the patient with the unusual tumor, Henrietta Lacks.
Henrietta was born on a tobacco farm in Virginia and lived in Baltimore with her husband and five children. She passed away from aggressive cervical cancer a few months after her tumor cells were harvested, and she never knew about them.
So, what makes the cells from Henrietta Lacks so special that they survive when other cell lines die? The short answer is that we don’t entirely know. Normal human cells have built-in control mechanisms that allow them to divide about 50 times before they self-destruct in a process called apoptosis. This process prevents the propagation of genetic errors that can occur after repeated rounds of division. However, cancer cells ignore these signals, dividing indefinitely and crowding out normal cells. Most cell lines eventually die off, especially outside the human body, but HeLa cells do not, and that aspect remains unexplained.
When Dr. Gey realized he had the first immortal line of human cells, he sent samples to labs worldwide. Soon, the world’s first cell production facility was generating 6 trillion HeLa cells a week, and scientists utilized them in ways that raised ethical concerns, building careers and fortunes off Henrietta’s cells without her or her family’s consent or knowledge until decades later.
During the early 1950s, when the polio epidemic was at its peak, HeLa cells, which easily took up and replicated the virus, allowed Jonas Salk to test his vaccine. They have been used to study various diseases, including measles, mumps, HIV, and Ebola. A scientist working with HeLa cells discovered a chemical that makes chromosomes visible, leading to the understanding that human cells have 46 chromosomes. HeLa cells themselves actually have around 80 highly mutated chromosomes.
HeLa cells were the first to be cloned and have even traveled to outer space. Telomerase, an enzyme that helps cancer cells evade destruction by repairing their DNA, was first discovered in HeLa cells. Interestingly, thanks to HeLa, we now know that cervical cancer can be caused by a virus called HPV, and there is now a vaccine for it.
HeLa-fueled discoveries have contributed to thousands of scientific papers, and that number is likely even higher than anyone knows. HeLa cells are so resilient that they can travel on almost any surface: a lab worker’s hand, a piece of dust, invading cultures of other cells and proliferating like weeds. Countless cures, patents, and discoveries have been made thanks to Henrietta Lacks.
Cells – The basic structural, functional, and biological units of all living organisms, often referred to as the building blocks of life. – In biology, understanding the function of cells is crucial for comprehending how organisms grow and develop.
Ethics – A branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct, especially in scientific research. – Ethical considerations in genetic research are essential to ensure that experiments do not harm participants or the environment.
Cancer – A disease characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. – Researchers are continuously studying the genetic mutations that lead to cancer to develop more effective treatments.
Genetics – The study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms. – Genetics plays a pivotal role in understanding inherited diseases and developing personalized medicine.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Conducting research in biology often involves extensive laboratory work and data analysis.
Consent – Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something, particularly in the context of research involving human participants. – Obtaining informed consent is a fundamental ethical requirement in clinical trials.
Disease – A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or affects a specific location. – Understanding the molecular basis of disease can lead to the development of targeted therapies.
Immortal – In biology, refers to cells that can divide indefinitely, often used in the context of cell lines used for research. – HeLa cells are an example of an immortal cell line that has been instrumental in medical research.
Chromosomes – Thread-like structures located within the nucleus of animal and plant cells, made of protein and a single molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). – The study of chromosomes is fundamental to understanding genetic inheritance and variation.
Vaccines – Biological preparations that provide active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease. – The development of vaccines has been one of the most significant achievements in public health, preventing millions of deaths each year.
