Henrietta

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Henrietta is a name that has been used in various contexts in history, science, and literature. It is most notably associated with Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized human cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research.

History[edit | edit source]

The name Henrietta has been used in various historical contexts. For example, Henrietta Maria of France was the queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I. She was mother of two kings, Charles II and James II, and was instrumental in the development of the Caroline court culture.

Science[edit | edit source]

In the field of science, the name Henrietta is most notably associated with Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line. This was the first immortalized human cell line and is one of the most important cell lines in medical research. The HeLa cell line has been used in testing the effects of radiation and toxic substances, in studying the human genome, and in developing the polio vaccine, among other things.

Literature[edit | edit source]

In literature, the name Henrietta is used in various works. For example, in Jane Austen's novel Persuasion, Henrietta Musgrove is one of the characters. In addition, in the novel The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Henrietta Stackpole is a journalist and friend of the protagonist, Lily Bart.

See also[edit | edit source]

Henrietta Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD