Understanding HeLa Cells and Their Impact on Science

Introduction to HeLa Cells

HeLa cells are lab-grown human cells that are immortal, meaning they can divide indefinitely.
The first immortal human cell line was developed from a sample taken in 1951 from Henrietta Lacks, a patient with cervical cancer.
Scientists use these cells to study diseases, genetics, and test treatments without patient risk.

Before 1951, all human cell lines died after a few days.
George Gey, a scientist at John Hopkins, discovered that cells from Henrietta Lacks' tumor kept dividing.
These cells were labeled "HeLa" after Henrietta Lacks.

HeLa cells can divide indefinitely, unlike normal human cells which self-destruct after about 50 divisions through apoptosis.
Normal cells have built-in controls to prevent propagation of genetic errors; cancer cells like HeLa ignore these signals.

Widespread Use: HeLa cells were mass-produced and distributed globally for research.
Polio Vaccine: Enabled testing of Jonas Salk's polio vaccine as HeLa cells replicated the virus effectively.
Disease Research: Used to study diseases like measles, mumps, HIV, and ebola.
Chromosomes Discovery: Helped establish that humans have 46 chromosomes; HeLa cells themselves have about 80 mutated chromosomes.
Cloning and Space Research: First cells to be cloned and sent to outer space.
Telomerase Discovery: Helped identify the enzyme telomerase, which aids cancer cells' DNA repair.

Henrietta Lacks and her family were unaware of the use of her cells, raising ethical concerns.
Scientists and institutions benefited financially and academically without Lacks' consent.

HeLa cells led to discoveries about HPV and the development of a cervical cancer vaccine.
They are so resilient they can contaminate other cultures, symbolizing the pervasive impact on scientific research.
HeLa-fueled discoveries continue to contribute to thousands of scientific papers.

HeLa cells remain a pivotal tool in medical and genetic research, driving advancements across various fields thanks to the unique and enduring nature of Henrietta Lacks' cells.