Henrietta Lacks, a young African American woman who passed away in 1951, unknowingly made one of the most significant contributions to medical science. During her treatment for cervical cancer, cells from her tumor were taken without her consent and became the first immortal human cell line, known as HELA.

These cells have played a pivotal role in numerous scientific discoveries, including the development of the polio vaccine, breakthroughs in cancer research, and advancements in in vitro fertilization. HELA cells have been crucial in understanding the mechanisms of cell division, genetics, and disease.

Despite the ethical concerns surrounding the use of HELA cells, there is no denying their immense impact on medical research. Henrietta Lacks’s legacy lives on through these immortal cells, which continue to shape the future of medicine.#18#