The discovery of HeLa cells is a story that is as fascinating as it is controversial. In 1951, a young Black woman named Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Unbeknownst to her, her cancer cells would go on to become one of the most important tools in modern medical research. HeLa cells, as they are now known, have revolutionized the study of diseases and have contributed to the development of countless medical treatments and therapies, while generating important and difficult discussion on medical consent.
Importance of HeLa cells
HeLa cells are among the most important tools in medical research because they can divide and reproduce endlessly under the right conditions. This means that researchers can study these cells in vitro, or outside the human body, to better understand how diseases develop and progress. HeLa cells are also used to test drugs and other therapies before they are used on humans. Because HeLa cells are so easy to grow and manipulate, they have become the gold standard for cell culture in medical research.
Why are HeLa cells so extraordinary?
HeLa cells are extraordinary for several reasons. First, they are immortal. Unlike most human cells, which have a limited lifespan, HeLa cells can continue to divide and reproduce indefinitely. This has made them an invaluable tool for studying cellular processes and disease states. Second, HeLa cells are very resilient. They can survive in a wide range of conditions and can be easily grown and manipulated in the laboratory. Finally, because HeLa cells are human cells, they are an ideal tool for studying diseases that affect humans.
What are HeLa cells used for?
HeLa cells have been used for a wide range of research applications, from basic biological research to drug discovery and development. They have been used to study the effects of radiation and other environmental toxins, as well as to develop new cancer treatments and vaccines. HeLa cells have also been instrumental in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Researchers have used HeLa cells to study how the virus replicates and how it interacts with the immune system.
In addition to their medical applications, HeLa cells have also been used to study a wide range of biological processes. For example, researchers have used HeLa cells to study how cells divide and reproduce, how they communicate with each other, and how they respond to different stimuli. HeLa cells have also been used to study how cells age and how they become cancerous.
Why are HeLa cells controversial?
The use of HeLa cells has also been the subject of controversy. One of the main ethical concerns is the fact that Henrietta Lacks did not give her consent for her cells to be used in medical research. Her cells were taken without her knowledge or consent, and her family was not informed of the commercial use of her cells for many years. This has raised important questions about the ethics of using human tissue for scientific research and the need to protect individuals’ privacy and rights.
Another concern is the fact that HeLa cells are human cells, which means that they are subject to the same genetic variability as any other human tissue. This can make it difficult to replicate results from one study to another, and it can also make it difficult to use HeLa cells as a model for diseases that are caused by specific genetic mutations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, HeLa cells have revolutionized modern medical research and have been instrumental in the development of many life-saving treatments and vaccines. However, their use has also raised important ethical questions about the use of human tissue for scientific research. While HeLa cells have many limitations, their use has helped to advance our understanding of diseases and has contributed to the development of countless medical treatments and therapies.
Further Reading
- Skloot, R. (2010). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Crown Publishing Group.
- National Institutes of Health. (2013). HeLa Cells: A Brief History. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/hela-cells-brief-history
- Serrano, A., & Rodrigues, R. (2014). The use of HeLa cells for scientific research. Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira, 60(1), 85-89.
- Landry, J. J., Pyl, P. T., Rausch, T., Zichner, T., Tekkedil, M. M., Stutz, A. M., … & Schlesner, M. (2013). The genomic and transcriptomic landscape of a HeLa cell line. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 3(8), 1213-1224.
- Wailoo, K. (2018). The politics of informed consent: The HeLa controversy and the politics of medical records. Journal of Policy History, 30(1), 80-94.
