Who was Henrietta Lacks - Coursework Example

Who was Henrietta Lacks? Henrietta Lacks was a young mother with five children who suffered from a severe case of cervical cancer. During her operation at the John Hopkins Hospital, the surgeons took a sample of the tissue that caused the cervical cancer without her consent. The sample was given to Doctor George Gey who would use it to conduct various experiments (Skloot 50). He was trying to create an immortal line of cells that could change the face of the medical world. He hoped that the cells would assist scientists in figuring the mystery behind cancer and thus eventually come up with a cure.

The doctor had previously tried to grow a series of human cells, but they all ended in failure. Henriettas cells however did not die. Henrietta died less than a year later, and she was buried on her familys land. Her family had no idea that part of her was still surviving and developing in scientific laboratories from John Hopkins to several areas of the world. Thirty-seven years after Henriettas death, Rebecca Skloot through her Biology instructor, learned of HeLa (Skloot 80). She learned that HeLa was the first ever immortal human cell line.

Rebeccas interest sparked, and she took on a life-changing research project that took her over ten years to complete. Henrietta Lack’s cell completely changed the medical world. Her cell led to medical and scientific breakthroughs. Moreover, it brought to question policies concerning patients’ rights. Her surviving children soon became aware of their mother’s surviving cell through Rebecca Skloot (Skloot 250). Deborah realized that her mother’s cell developed a multi-billion industry.

What is more, a relationship between Deborah and Rebecca developed. All these events marked Henrietta’s legacy and Immortality (Skloot 381).Works CitedSkloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Penguin, Random House. 2010. Print