JOIN THE ONLY LACKS FAMILY-LED FACEBOOK GROUP COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF HENRIETTA LACKS
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An opportunity to mingle and bond with people that are passionate about creating a more efficient healthcare system and reducing health disparities.
Learn the TRUE history behind the Henrietta Lacks phenomenon.
After Henrietta's death in 1951, a scientist discovered that Henrietta's DNA cells lived outside of her body and they never died. In contrast, all other human cells died after a few hours. Not only did Henrietta's cells stay alive in the lab, but the cells also replicated every 24 hours.
The immortal DNA cells were coined "HeLa" which combined the first 2 letters of her first name and last name. This huge medical breakthrough allowed researchers to conduct experiments on human cells outside of the body. HeLa cells have played a crucial role in medical science.
Scientists have continued to use the immortal HeLa cell line all over the world. Research involving polio vaccines, chemotherapy, HIV/Aids, cloning, and IVF have all benefited from the HeLa cell line.
50 Million
Metric tons of HeLa cells have been distributed around the world
Trillions
of HeLa cells have been reproduced
75,000
Medical studies have been conducted using HeLa cells
Henrietta Lacks' Immortal DNA cells live inside of all of us, yet most people have no idea who she is.