HeLa cells

Introduction

HeLa cells are a line of human cervical cancer cells that were the first immortalized cell line to be successfully cultured in vitro. They were derived from cervical cancer cells taken from Henrietta Lacks, a patient who died of cancer in 1951. HeLa cells have been instrumental in numerous scientific breakthroughs and are one of the most widely used cell lines in biomedical research.

History

The HeLa cell line was established by Dr. George Gey at Johns Hopkins University in 1951. The cells were taken from a biopsy of Henrietta Lacks' cervical tumor without her knowledge or consent, a common practice at the time. The cells were found to be remarkably robust and capable of dividing indefinitely under the right conditions, which was a groundbreaking discovery for cell biology.

Characteristics

HeLa cells are characterized by their ability to proliferate indefinitely, which is why they are referred to as "immortal." This is due to the presence of the enzyme telomerase, which prevents the shortening of telomeres during cell division. HeLa cells are also aneuploid, meaning they have an abnormal number of chromosomes, which is typical of cancer cells.

Applications in Research

HeLa cells have been used in a wide range of scientific research, including:

• Virology: HeLa cells were crucial in the development of the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk.
• Cancer Research: They have been used to study the mechanisms of cancer cell growth and metastasis.
• Genetics: HeLa cells have been used in genome mapping and gene expression studies.
• Drug Testing: They serve as a model for testing the efficacy and toxicity of new drugs.

Ethical Considerations

The use of HeLa cells has raised significant ethical issues, particularly regarding informed consent and the rights of patients. Henrietta Lacks' family was not made aware of the existence of the cell line until decades later, leading to discussions about the ethics of using human tissues in research without consent.

Controversies

The HeLa cell line has been involved in several controversies, including issues of contamination in other cell cultures and the commercialization of biological materials derived from HeLa cells without compensation to the Lacks family.

Legacy

Henrietta Lacks' contribution to science has been recognized posthumously, and her story has been the subject of numerous books and films, highlighting the intersection of race, ethics, and medical research.

Also see

• Henrietta Lacks
• Cell culture
• Immortalized cell line
• Informed consent
• Bioethics