HeLa cells are the first immortal cells ever to grow successfully in a laboratory. Immortal cells don’t die after dividing like normal human cells; they continuously multiply, and scientists can use them as a renewable source of biological material. Because immortal cells grow quickly and are easy to preserve, HeLa cells have become one of the most important tools in modern biomedical science. For over 70 years, researchers have relied on HeLa cells to study diseases, test medications and better understand how the human body works.
HeLa cells came from Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman. Lacks was born in 1920 in Virginia and later moved to Baltimore, Md. In early February 1951, Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. During her treatment at John Hopkins Hospital, doctors took a sample of her cancer cells without her consent.
What made Lacks’ cells different from others was that her cells could survive and multiply outside the human body.
Scientists labeled these cells “HeLa cells,” using the first two letters or her first and last name. Her cells became the first immortal human cell line. This meant that researchers could perform countless experiments without having to worry about the cells dying out.
Scientists quickly began using HeLa cells and the cells became essential to scientific breakthroughs. In the 1950s, they used HeLa cells in the development and testing of the polio vaccine, which protected millions of people from the disease.
Over the years, scientists have used HeLa cells to study cancer, viruses, gene mapping and the effects of radiation and toxic substances on the body. Lacks’ cells have also played a major role in research for HIV/AIDS, vitro fertilization and studies on COVID-19.
Despite the scientific value of her cells, Lacks and her family were never informed about how HeLa cells have impacted medicine and labs. In 1951, Lacks passed away at 31 years old. In the 1970s, her family learned that her cells had been used in thousands of studies and had helped generate billions of dollars in medical and pharmaceutical research.
After her death, Lacks’ family spent decades trying to understand what had happened to her cells and to gain recognition for her contribution to science. In the 1970s, researchers contacted the Lacks family, not to offer compensation, but to request blood samples, often without explaining why. Many of Lacks’ family members struggled with chronic illnesses and lacked the essential access to healthcare, even as HeLa cells were being used worldwide to advance medicine and generate enormous profits.
Over time, the family pushed for acknowledgment and ethical accountability, and in 1974 a “Science” magazine published an article titled “HeLa (for Henrietta Lacks),” giving her deserved credit. The long struggle for justice and understanding brought attention to Lacks’ story, allowing it to be shared through literature and journalism.
In 2010, Rebecca Skloot wrote a biography about Lacks, titled “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” The book explains the scientific importance of HeLa cells and the emotional/personal impact on the Lacks family. It also highlights the issue of informed consent, medical ethics and racial inequality in research and healthcare. The book raised a lot of attention and helped start national conversations about patients rights and led to policies for greater protection and awareness in medical research practices.
HeLa cells are recognized as one of the most important contributors to medical science, even though Lacks never chose to be a part of it. Her cells have helped save countless lives and advance our understanding of diseases. Without HeLa cells, many vaccines, cancer treatments and scientific discoveries wouldn’t have happened. Lacks’ unknowing role in science advancement is one of the most powerful and lasting contributions to the medical field.
