Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed terminal cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins University. During her treatment, Dr. George Gey, without her consent, harvested cells from her cervix. Lacks cancer cells possessed a remarkable property, they could grow indefinitely in a lab. This discovery led to the creation of the first immortal human cell line, known as HeLa cells, which has been a revolution in medical research.
In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed terminal cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins University. During her treatment, Dr. George Gey, without her consent, harvested cells from her cervix. Lacks cancer cells possessed a remarkable property, they could grow indefinitely in a lab. This discovery led to the creation of the first immortal human cell line, known as HeLa cells, which has been a revolution in medical research.
