Rebecca Skloot, author of 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,' dives into the profound legacy of Henrietta, who unknowingly contributed to medical breakthroughs through her HeLa cells. The conversation highlights Henrietta's life and the ethical dilemmas surrounding her cells, which were used without consent. Skloot also explores themes of identity, ownership in scientific research, and the emotional journeys of Henrietta's family as they advocate for recognition and privacy in the face of their mother's lasting impact on medicine.
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Henrietta's Tumor
In 1950s Baltimore, a Black woman discovered a knot in her womb.
Doctors at Johns Hopkins described her cervical tumor as unusual: purple, shiny, and soft like jelly.
question_answer ANECDOTE
HeLa Cells' Birth
Doctors gave a sample of Henrietta's tumor to George Guy, who was trying to grow human cells in a dish.
Unexpectedly, Henrietta's cells, later named HeLa, thrived and multiplied, unlike any cells before.
question_answer ANECDOTE
HeLa's Immortality
While Henrietta tragically died from her cancer, her cells continued to grow exponentially in the lab.
George Guy then sent Mary Kubitschek to the morgue to get more samples from Henrietta's body.
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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[2][4][5].
Today, a story that starts small and private, with one woman alone in her bathroom, as she makes a quiet, startling discovery about her own body. But that small, private moment grows and grows, and pretty soon it becomes something so big that it has impacted the life of every person reading this right now… and all that without the woman ever even knowing the impact she had. We originally aired this story back in 2010, but we thought we’d bring it back today, as questions about bodily autonomy circle with renewed force.
EPISODE CREDITS: Reported by - Rebecca Skloot
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