The Black woman whose cells were stolen was Henrietta Lacks.
Henrietta Lacks was a young African American mother who died of cervical cancer in 1951. Without her knowledge or consent, cells from her tumor were taken and used to create the first immortal human cell line, known as HeLa.
HeLa cells have been used in countless groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs, including the development of the polio vaccine, cancer research, and gene mapping. However, Henrietta Lacks and her family were never compensated for the use of her cells, and their privacy was often violated.
The story of Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cell line highlights the ethical complexities surrounding the use of human tissue in research. It also brings to light the systemic racism and exploitation that have historically impacted Black communities in the United States.
While Henrietta Lacks' story is a tragic one, it has also sparked important conversations about informed consent, patient rights, and the commercialization of human biology.
