The immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks - Robin Bulleri

Summary

HeLa cells, derived from Henrietta Lacks' tumor, revolutionized medical research with their unique ability to divide indefinitely. These immortal cells have contributed to breakthroughs in virology, genetics, and cancer research, enabling the development of the polio vaccine and insights into HPV's role in cervical cancer. Despite ethical concerns surrounding their use without consent, HeLa cells' impact on scientific discovery is immeasurable.

Takeaways

• 🌐 HeLa cells are a unique and valuable resource in medical research, providing an endless supply of identical cells for study.
• 🧬 Before HeLa, all attempts to grow human cell lines in labs failed after a few days due to cells' inability to continue dividing.
• 🔬 George Gey's discovery of HeLa cells revolutionized cell biology, enabling the first immortal human cell line that could be used for repeated experiments.
• 🏥 Henrietta Lacks' cancerous cells, from which HeLa cells originated, were taken without her knowledge or consent, raising ethical questions about medical research.
• 📈 HeLa cells have been instrumental in numerous scientific breakthroughs, including the development of the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk.
• 🧬 HeLa cells have around 80 highly mutated chromosomes, contrasting with the typical 46 found in human cells.
• 🚀 These cells have been cloned, sent to space, and have been used to study a wide range of diseases, from measles to HIV and Ebola.
• 🔬 The discovery of telomerase, an enzyme that helps cancer cells repair their DNA, was first made in HeLa cells, contributing to our understanding of cancer.
• 🌟 HeLa cells have been so influential that they have led to thousands of scientific papers and numerous medical advancements.
• 🌱 HeLa cells are incredibly resilient and can contaminate other cell cultures, which has both positive and negative implications for research.

Q & A

What is the significance of HeLa cells in scientific research?

HeLa cells are significant in scientific research because they are the first immortal human cell line, allowing for endless replication and providing a stable source of identical cells for experiments, disease study, and treatment testing.

Why were scientists unable to grow human cell lines before 1951?

Before 1951, all human cell lines that researchers tried to grow died after a few days because normal human cells have a limited number of divisions before they undergo apoptosis, a self-destruction process.

Who discovered the HeLa cell line and how was it named?

The HeLa cell line was discovered by Dr. George Gey at John Hopkins. It was named 'HeLa' after the patient with the unusual tumor, Henrietta Lacks.

What was unique about Henrietta Lacks' tumor that allowed the HeLa cells to survive indefinitely?

The uniqueness of Henrietta Lacks' tumor was that the cells from it could divide indefinitely, unlike normal cells which have a built-in limit to their division. The exact reason for this is not entirely known.

How did HeLa cells contribute to the development of the polio vaccine?

HeLa cells contributed to the development of the polio vaccine by allowing Jonas Salk to test his vaccine because these cells could easily take up and replicate the polio virus.

What ethical concerns arose from the use of HeLa cells in scientific research?

The ethical concerns arose because Henrietta Lacks' cells were used to build careers and fortunes without her or her family's consent or knowledge, raising questions about informed consent and the commercialization of human biological materials.

How have HeLa cells been used in the study of various diseases?

HeLa cells have been used to study a range of diseases including measles, mumps, HIV, and Ebola due to their ability to be infected and replicate these viruses.

Why do HeLa cells have a higher number of chromosomes compared to normal human cells?

HeLa cells have around 80 highly mutated chromosomes compared to the normal 46 in human cells due to the genetic instability and mutations that occurred as a result of their indefinite division.

What was the first discovery made using HeLa cells that has implications for cancer treatment?

The discovery of the enzyme telomerase, which helps cancer cells evade destruction by repairing their DNA, was first made in HeLa cells and has significant implications for understanding and treating cancer.

How have HeLa cells contributed to our understanding of cervical cancer?

HeLa cells contributed to the understanding that cervical cancer can be caused by a virus called HPV, leading to the development of a vaccine against HPV.

What is the impact of HeLa cells on scientific research beyond the lab?

HeLa cells have had a profound impact on scientific research beyond the lab, filling thousands of scientific papers and contributing to countless cures, patents, and discoveries.