#9556
Mentioned in 5 episodes
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Book • 2011
The book narrates the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cervical cancer cells, known as HeLa cells, were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and have since become one of the most important tools in medicine.
The cells have been used in developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more, yet Henrietta's family remained unaware of her 'immortality' for decades and never benefited financially from the cells.
The book delves into the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over body ownership.
It also explores the personal story of Henrietta's family, particularly her daughter Deborah, and their struggles with the legacy of her cells.
The cells have been used in developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more, yet Henrietta's family remained unaware of her 'immortality' for decades and never benefited financially from the cells.
The book delves into the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over body ownership.
It also explores the personal story of Henrietta's family, particularly her daughter Deborah, and their struggles with the legacy of her cells.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 5 episodes
Recommended by Kristen Yarema for those in the biotech industry.
14 snips
Pioneering Advances in Cell Therapy: Kristin Yarema, President & CEO of Poseida Therapeutics
Mentioned as a book that faced editorial pressure to minimize the family's story and focus on the scientific research.
The Sunday Read: ‘Inside the Push to Diversify the Book Business’
Mentioned by an English teacher to Gretchen Craig Turner, a biotech teacher, to incorporate into her curriculum.
Want To Dismantle Racism In Science? Start In The Classroom
Mentioned when discussing the ethical implications of using Henrietta Lacks' cells in medical research without her family's knowledge.
Anti-Racist Science Education
