Cell line: HeLa Cells
Cell type: Human cervix carcinoma
Origin: Taken from cervix carcinoma of a 31 year Henrietta Lacks in 1951
Morphology: Epithelial-like cells growing in monolayers

Culturing Hela Cells

Watch the Hela cell culture protocol from thawing to plating out.



Medium: 90% of MEM or DMEM (with Earle's salts) with 10% FCS + 2 mM L-glutamine + non-essential amino acids. Can also use RPMI-1640 and 5-10% FBS.

Subculture: split confluent culture 1:4 or 1:6 every 3-5 days depending on confluency using trypsin/EDTA. Rate of doubling time is 24 to 48 hours. Seed at 1-2 x 106 cells/80 cm2. Incubate at 37 °C with 5% CO2

Storage: frozen with 70% medium, 20% FCS with 10% DMSO at about 1 x 106cells/ampoule

Asymmetric spindle orientation oh HeLa cells

Asymmetric spindle orientation oh HeLa cells on crossbow shaped micropattern

Henrietta Lacks, HeLa Cells, and Cell Culture Contamination

The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksHenrietta Lacks died in 1951 of an aggressive adenocarcinoma of the cervix. A tissue biopsy obtained for diagnostic evaluation yielded additional tissue for Dr George O. Gey's tissue culture laboratory at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, Maryland). The cancer cells, now called HeLa cells, grew rapidly in cell culture and became the first human cell line. HeLa cells were used by researchers around the world. However, 20 years after Henrietta Lacks' death, mounting evidence suggested that HeLa cells contaminated and overgrew other cell lines. Cultures, supposedly of tissues such as breast cancer or mouse, proved to be HeLa cells. We describe the history behind the development of HeLa cells, including the first published description of Ms Lacks' autopsy, and the cell culture contamination that resulted. The debate over cell culture contamination began in the 1970s and was not harmonious. Ultimately, the problem was not resolved and it continues today. Finally, we discuss the philosophical implications of the immortal HeLa cell line.

Reference and rest of the article: Lucey BP, Nelson-Rees WA, Hutchins GM. 2009. Henrietta Lacks, HeLa cells, and cell culture contamination.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 133(9):1463-7

Story of HeLa cells

The entire story of Hela cells and the Henrietta Lacks.

HeLa cell culture protocol

Medium: 90% of MEM (with Earle's salts) with 10% FCS + 2 mM L-glutamine + non-essential amino acids. Can also use RPMI-1640 and 5-10% FBS.

Subculture: split confluent culture 1:4 or 1:6 every 3-5 days depending on confluency using trypsin/EDTA. Rate of doubling time is 24 to 48 hours. Seed at 1-2 x 106 cells/80 cm2. Incubate at 37 °C with 5% CO2
Storage: frozen with 70% medium, 20% FCS with 10% DMSO at about 1 x 106cells/ampoule

HeLa Cells - News