Ekta | wisdomekta

Coincidently I opened to read this book on 2 February 2022 exactly 12 years after it got printed. Being a science student myself, the “ HeLa ” term is not new to me… however, the saga behind HeLa brought utter impact and revelation. In 1952, HeLa cells came to be the first human cell line that could thrive and divide endlessly in a laboratory , leading scientists to label these cells “ immortal ”. They are the world's most ubiquitous sources for medical research on everything… from hormones, steroids, and vitamins to gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, studying atomic bombs' effects, outer space …even the polio vaccine. It gives me goosebumps to realize that we all have benefitted from 'her' cells and shall continue to be part of our future generations as well! These Immortal ' HeLa ' cells belonged to 'her'. She was a 31 years old African American woman named Henrietta Lacks. In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, born into a family of tobacco farmers in Virginia...