HeLa Cell Culture: Immortal Heritage of Henrietta Lacks

Abstract

When we use cell cultures in research, we rarely think about the story behind them, which can be intriguing, providing insight, and sometimes tragic. In the 1950s, the culture of HeLa cells unexpectedly became well known scientifically and became one of the most famous cell cultures. These cells were taken from a woman named Henrietta Lacks, who had cervical cancer and died shortly afterward, and the HeLa cell line proved to be an essential tool for several generations of scientists around the world in developing new treatments and biomedical research. These cells have become unique due to their immortality, endless division, easy cultivation, and adaptation to conservation conditions. At the same time, HeLa cells remain a simplified imitation of the human body.