Henrietta Lacks' Immortal Cells Explained: Shedding Light on How They Survived Space, Toxins, Viruses, and Radiation

There have been many prominent figures in the field of medicine with only a few people having multiple contributions even after their deaths. Henrietta Lacks is one of them as her cells provided critical use to the development of the polio vaccine, cloning, and even gene mapping.

Henrietta Lacks

According to Science Alert, Henrietta's contribution happened even without her initially knowing about it. This came as she received treatment in 1951 at the John Hopkins Hospital where biopsies were taken from her body without her knowing or giving any consent.

Fast forward to today, her cells remain critical in the world of science, even known as the HeLa cells as the first cell line to become immortal. Before the HeLe cells were used, other previous cells were incapable of surviving inside a lab for more than a few days.

However, when Dr. George Otto Gey got his hands on them, they discovered something they'd never seen before. Dr. Gey isolated a specific cell, which allowed them to start the very first immortal cell line.

HeLa Cells in Space

According to Smithsonian Magazine, the cells were even sent to space during the first space mission. Researchers used the cells as a way to observe their performance in zero gravity.

Oxford Academic describes how the cells were sent aboard the Russian Mir space station for 4 days before they stayed for another 9 days in the American space shuttle. When the astronauts landed, they labeled the cells with space radiation and observed the DNA damage to the cells.

The findings helped the scientists better understand space radiation and its effect on the cells. Aside from space, they have also been exposed to toxins, viruses, and different kinds of radiation.

Scientists had already grown 20 tons of HeLa cells in 2014 alone, with almost 11,000 patents being developed involving the cells. The amount of HeLa cells is also overwhelming; and according to estimates, it could wrap Earth at least thrice if they were attached end-to-end in a line.

HeLa Cells and Virus Research

HeLa cells were also used in the development of the polio vaccine, leading to millions saved. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 17 million people would have died should the vaccine not have been made.

WebMD even highlights how HeLa cells were involved in the research for COVID-19 vaccine development. They were also used for the development of the HPV vaccine and in the late 1980s, it was discovered that HeLa cells were less likely to be infected by HIV.

Before that, in 1964, HeLa cells were also used to test out the hydroxyurea drug, which resulted in what's currently known as a treatment for sickle cell anemia and white blood cell cancer. Another popular use of the cells was in the understanding of the effects of Salmonella, allowing scientists to find further ways to treat the disease.

These are just a few among the many contribution of Harietta Lacks' cells, popularly known as the HeLa cells.

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