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First Cell Extraction
George Gay, a doctor at Johns Hopkins, took Henrietta Lacks cancerous cells for her cervix for the first time and cultured the first immortal cells. Her cells would reproduce faster than they would die. Thus, immortal cells were born to change the medical and scientific community. -
Death of Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta passes away at 12:04 A.M., and George Gay gets the last tissue sample from all organs of her body. This would later spark controversy over patient rights, both alive and living, and these cells from different organs would change the way HeLa cancerous cells were viewed -
United States "Cell" Service
HeLa cells become the first cells ever to be shipped through the postal service. This innovation in cell transport method allows greater access for scientists around the country to innovate science and develop medication and vaccines -
Polio Vaccine Testing
After being shipped across the nation, the ingenuity of scientists discovered that the cells could be a substitute for the previous monkey cells that were used for cell testing. This allowed for millions of cells to be tested, which inevitably led to the polio vaccine to eradicate the virus in 1953 -
Cancer Research
Scientists use HeLa cells to develop a cancer research method to determine whether or not a human cell is cancerous. This also applied chromosome research to the cells to determine if there were any genetic disorders in the genome. -
3...2...1...Takeoff
HeLa cells are sent to outer space on the Discover XVIII satellite to determine the effect zero gravity has on cells. This mission is used in a study to warn future voyagers of the effects space travel may have on the human body and was a crucial milestone in the moon landing in 1969. -
Just Finding the Cheese Genes
HeLa cells are successfully fused with those of a mouse, creating the first animal-human hybrid cell and allowing scientists to study how specific genes work, leading to future discovery in genetic diseases and genome tracking. -
Not Another Great American Scandal
Scientist Stanley Gartler revealed that these cells could travel on air and dust particles but also that the cells had been “contaminated,” which inevitably led to the discovery of Henrietta’s family. This would bring up revelations in the patient's rights from the discovery of the unknowing of taking HeLa cells. This would birth new patient rights in the coming years. -
Life, Liberty, and Protection
The story was a catalyst for change, including major regulatory changes proposed in the United States surrounding informed consent. These proposals were derived from the issues of the uninformed taking of Henrietta's cells following her death which helped shaped patient rights for the past 50 years -
Salmonella Testing
Scientists use HeLa cells as a fast and cost-effective way to test how salmonella affects the body. Using HeLa, scientists test new ways to treat the disease that is still common in the modern day. -
Tuberculosis
Scientists use HeLa cells to see at a molecular level how tuberculosis makes people sick. This discovery provided information for the potential development of treatment of this disease. Still a medical disease today, it is crucial that development of treatment for tuberculosis derived from HeLa cells -
The Holy Grail of Medicine
Scientists use HeLa cells to discover how the presence of HPA can lead to cervical cancer. This was a way for them to develop one of the first anti-cancer vaccines. As one of the largest causes of death in the world, innovation in prevention and combat against cancer was crucial and derived from HeLa cells. -
Telomere Disocvery
A scientist at Yale discovers the enzyme called telomere is the reason behind the HeLa cell's immortality. This explains the rapid growth nature of cancerous cells, further contributing to the understanding of all forms of cancer. -
Recognition and Rights 50 Years Later
Johns Hopkins brokered an agreement that requires scientists to receive permission to use Henrietta Lacks’ genetic blueprint or to use HeLa cells in research. This was branched from the increased patient rights that derived from HeLa extraction which vastly contributed to innovation and privacy. -
COVID-19 and Modern Innovations
Even though HeLa cells might not be used in the production of COVID-19 vaccines, they were used to understand the virus. Knowledge gained from that cell went into the development of a vaccine. Thanks to the immortal nature of the cells, they were able to be tested against the strain that Causes COVID-19 over and over again until they discovered the exact cause of the virus.