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

A quick summary of the book "The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.

 


"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is a book by Rebecca Skloot that tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cancerous cells were taken without her knowledge or consent in 1951. These cells, known as HeLa cells, were the first immortal human cell line and have been widely used in scientific research, leading to numerous medical breakthroughs. However, Henrietta's family was not aware of this until decades later, and they struggled with the consequences of her cells being used without their permission. The book explores the ethical issues surrounding medical research and the exploitation of marginalized communities, as well as the Lacks family's journey to understand and come to terms with Henrietta's legacy.

Should family of Henrietta Lacks be given compensation by companies selling HeLa cells?

The Henrietta Lacks story is one of tragedy, but also of immense medical progress. In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer. While she was being treated, her doctor took samples of her cells without her knowledge, and these cells are now known as HeLa cells. HeLa cells have since been used in the development of groundbreaking medical treatments, including the polio vaccine, cloning and gene mapping. Despite the significant advances made in medical science through the use of HeLa cells, the family of Henrietta Lacks has yet to receive compensation for the cells. This essay will discuss the various arguments surrounding the question of whether or not the family of Henrietta Lacks should be compensated for the use of HeLa cells by companies selling the cells.

How do Hela cells keep dividing while other cells die off

 Hela cells are cancer cells and have ability to divide rapidly and indefinitely. This is because they have acquired mutations in their DNA that allow them to evade the normal cellular mechanisms that control cell growth and division. These mutations can affect a variety of different cellular processes, including the ability of cells to respond to growth signals, the ability of cells to repair DNA damage, and the ability of cells to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). By disrupting these normal cellular mechanisms, cancer cells are able to divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner, which can lead to the formation of a tumor. As a result, Hela cells are able to keep dividing and reproducing, even when other normal cells in the body would die off. This ability to indefinitely divide is one of the key characteristics of cancer cells, and it is what makes them so difficult to treat.

HeLa cells re capable of undergoing rapid, mitotically-driven cellular division. In order to achieve this, HeLa cells undergo a process known as mitosis. This involves a series of stages which culminate in the separation of the genetic material from the parent cell into two daughter cells.

The first stage of mitosis is known as prophase. During this stage, the genetic material, housed within the nucleus of the HeLa cell, condenses to form a pair of chromosomes. The nuclear membrane also begins to break down.

The second stage is known as metaphase. During this stage, the chromosomes line up at the cell’s equator.

The third stage is anaphase. During this stage, the sister chromatids separate, and are drawn to the cell’s poles.

The fourth stage is telophase. During this stage, the chromosomes reach the cell’s poles, and a new nuclear membrane forms around each daughter cell. The cytoplasm also divides in two, allowing the two daughter cells to separate.

Finally, cytokinesis occurs. During this stage, the cytoplasm divides, and a cleavage furrow forms between the two daughter cells. This cleavage furrow then deepens until the two daughter cells have been completely separated.

Overall, HeLa cells divide by undergoing the process of mitosis. This involves four stages; prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. The process is completed by cytokinesis, where the cleavage furrow between the daughter cells deepens until the two cells are completely separated.

HeLa Cells ATCC

 The American Type Culture Collection, or ATCC, is a non-profit organization that maintains a collection of biological materials for use in research and education. These materials include cell lines, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms, as well as biological reagents and standards. The ATCC was founded in 1925, and today it is one of the world's largest and most widely used repositories of biological materials. Its mission is to support scientific research and discovery by providing high-quality, well-characterized biological materials to researchers around the world.

Hela cells are a type of immortalized cell line derived from cervical cancer cells. They were first isolated in 1951 by researcher Henrietta Lacks, and are now commonly used in scientific research. The ATCC, or American Type Culture Collection, is a non-profit organization that maintains a collection of biological materials for use in research and education. They offer a variety of different Hela cell lines for purchase, including both wild-type and mutant strains.  They also offer normal cell lines are cells that are derived from healthy tissue and are not cancerous or genetically modified in any way. These cell lines are commonly used as controls in experiments to compare the behavior of normal cells to cells that have been altered in some way. They also offer Kyoto Hela cells that are a subtype of Hela cells that have been extensively studied and are available from the ATCC for use in research.

George Otto Gey and Hela cells

George Otto Gey and Hela cells are two prominent names in medical history and cell culture research. George Otto Gey was a pathologist from Pittsburgh who discovered and developed the culture and growth of human tumor cells in vitro. Hela cells, on the other hand, were derived from a cervical cancer cell sample obtained from a female patient, Henrietta Lacks. Hela cells were discovered in 1951 by Gey and his team and have since been used in a wide range of scientific research and medical applications. This essay will discuss the scientific significance of George Otto Gey and the development of the HeLa cell line, the ethical implications of his discovery, and the potential impacts of the HeLa cell line on medical research and applications.

George Otto Gey was born in 1895 and earned his M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1919. His career focused primarily on pathology, studying the structure and function of tissues and organs in the body. In 1931, Gey established the Tissue Culture Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, with the aim of developing methods for culturing human tumor cells in vitro. This was an extremely important development, as it allowed scientists to study the physiology of tumors outside of the body, something which had not been possible before. This ultimately led to the identification and successful isolation of a single cell sample from a cervical cancer patient, which Gey named HeLa.

The HeLa cell line was derived from a sample of cells taken from the cervical tumor of Henrietta Lacks in 1951. This was the first successful isolation and culture of a human tumor cell line, making it an incredibly important discovery in the field of cell biology. Due to its ability to rapidly divide and replicate, the HeLa cell line has been used extensively in research, making it one of the most studied and well-known cell lines in the world. HeLa cells have been used to investigate a variety of medical conditions and treatments, including the effects of radiation, cancer treatments, and viral infections.

Despite the scientific importance of George Otto Gey's discovery and the HeLa cell line, it has been the subject of ethical debates for many years. This is due to the fact that the sample used to create the HeLa cell line was taken from Henrietta Lacks without her knowledge or consent. While Gey was not responsible for obtaining the sample, he was responsible for the development of the HeLa cell line, which has led to its widespread use in medical research and applications. This has raised ethical questions about the proper use of human samples in medical research and the rights of the donor of such samples.

Overall, the discovery of George Otto Gey and the HeLa cell line has had a profound impact on the medical field. His discovery allowed for the development of a reliable, efficient way to culture and study human tumor cells in vitro, something that had not been possible before. Furthermore, the HeLa cell line has been used extensively in research and applications, leading to many important advances in the medical field. Finally, the ethical implications of Gey's discovery have raised important questions about the use of human samples in medical research and the rights of the donor.


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