How can we get someone to come and speak to us on this subject? People struggle thier whole life trying to get others to notice them. This women has manifested a gift that keeps on giving from God.

i believe in this story and thats cool how the nature is

this story is actually coo to hear about (;

I bought this book 2 years ago and I'm still telling people about it.

According to the book, what was taken were not healthy Henrietta Lack's cells, but cells that have been profoundly changed by cervical cancer in such a way that they ended up becoming a possible separate species. It's hard for me to identify a cancer cell with human tissue. In fact, with cervical cancer cells, anyone wants to get rid of them, not keep them, let alone identify these cancer cells with its own humanity. This commom-sense consideration have been distorted by the usual culprits: money, greed, and power. This book tracks such distortion. Alexa

I am not a scientist, my field is in purchasing. I bought the book because it sounded interesting and what the heck...I could not put it down; is well written, the information is explained in such a way that you don't need to know that much science. I was reading the fifty shade series and stopped to read this one. Great book and the HeLa cells raises a lot of questions that need to be address.

this is a very impotaint piece of human history, i have read this book it is just incredible i was astonished with this.

After reading some of the comments below, I realize my previous question sounds kind of cold. It was not intended that way, but while reading the book it was a question that came to mind - is research done on cells that survive differently than most of real value? The human story is one of many examples of the exploitation of minorities. Had they simply asked her permission, my guess is that she would have freely allowed her cells to be used in research. Unfortunately, they didn't, and for that the family should receive compensation. If drug companies were not making money hand over fist based on research done on Henrietta's cells I might think differently. Drug companies are not non-profit... For anyone who may think this kind of thing is a part of our remote past, the Tuskegee syphilis studies continued until 1972. I was ten years old that year.

If I understand correctly, Henrietta Lacks' cancer cells survive when other cancer cells do not. If that is the case, how do we know that the results of research done on them is applicable to other cancer cells?

Testing and using any part of a dead family member should never be done without family consent, even moreso, if they are collected while the patient is still living. I am absolutely amazed how this family (amongst many others I'm sure) were never told about this incredible development. The family should without question be financially compensated by every company which kept HeLa cells alive for generations. This is most of all about respect and dignity for each person regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. Rebecca Skloot's book should be required reading for any of those in the field of biological research and development. And frankly, I think it should be read by any student in college regardless...Bless you Henrietta, and my prayers are with the remaining Lacks' famiy members!

The better question is what are all the companies and people, that are STILL, TO THIS DAY making money off of her cells, going to do to compensate her family. Not to mention that her family was exploited years after her cells were taken. INVITROGEN, ATCC and all others should pay up. PERIOD!

Great article, but it amazes me that when Caucasians do under handed, deceitful things especially to minorities, its always viewed as 'they had good intentions,' when clearly it isn't the case. By right the family shouldn't have to fight for the rights of what's clearly financially theirs. A settlement should be agreed upon with the family having continuous royalties with an annuity set up for the family that will provide for the Lacks family for generations to come.

Since the cells were cancerous cells, how much were they really "her" cells. Aren't those the cells they are trying to kill in cancer treatment? If killing those cells saves her life, how are they "her?"

this is an awesome article on her and what she did it is so amazing ... i like this story because its great to learn about a woman from the past.

Medical ethics has evolved tremendously since the 1950's. There are many known cases of medical ethics gone wrong but they have well served to establish rules that the scientific and medical community abide by. I am studying to become a Biology major at Queens College and I work in a research lab, so I know how important it is to remain truthful and transparent when it comes to research studies. Henrietta's story is one of great meaning and deserves to be brough to light. Thank you Rebecca Skloot!!

This one of the most facinating stories I have read about in a long time. I know the book will be quite informative.

I have a problem with the answer that was given.. If people think that white person trying to get over but they really had good intention... Why did they keep changing her name so the public wouldn't know it was Henrietta Lacks.. And also they knew they was wrong for not paying the family... They made billions of dollars.. But they felt since she was dying they wasn't hurting her.. the company continue to mislead the family until someone finally spoke on their behalf..

"young black woman with cervical cancer" i doubt anybody around here is at all racist, but i imagined if the article had specified the woman was white. just kind of stood out to me, that i don't care what colour she was. her height, weight, and favorite food seem like equally valuable information do they not? just a thought. interesting article though!

I read the book--was amazed and not to surprised how the family was ripped off and continues to be...Henrietta lives on with most of the world connected to her!!!!

Omg this creeps me out all the time

I am 74 yrs old and I am just now learning about Henrietta Lacks. I am proud of the contribution that Mrs Lacks cells have made, however when I read the book and see how uneducated and poor her family is, I have to deduct that an educated, middle or higher income family would not have been taken advantage of in this manner. And lets get real they often experimented with black poor people.

I am reading this book now, and I have to say that, even with all the attention it has been getting in the press, the actual story has far exceeded my expectations. This is one of the most compelling and well-written stories I have ever read. The science is clearly well-researched and carefully explained, but the story of Henrietta and her family is truly unforgettable. Thanks, Ms. Skloot, for such a literary gift.

and 2 years later... I first heard about HeLa 15 or 20(maybe 40 years ago in Bio 253) years ago, so that is an old story for me. But from day one and every time I think about it I feel that families and persons that become central to the birth of profit making health technologies should share in the profits. And on another offshoot, I have wondered if all the HeLa was weighed how many tons of her/it there would be. I have a hunch that there is more of her now than the total weight of all of her decedents and maybe first order cousins as well.

This is still going on. In Minnesota, mandatory newborn, unconsented DNA bloodwork had to be argued in state supreme court. Mandatory written consent DNA testing is in military. Many states do 50 metabolic tests with PKU heel stick on newborns without your opt in, opt out signature, I bet.
You need to get your copies of these tests and put under lock and key. It is killing me how long some states hand onto your babies tests. DNA test are routinely done at Medical schools, often without your signature or knowledge where the database is and who is using it. Many people can have access to your records. Wake up people to Brave New World.

wow,,,thats amazing something happen? to immortal cells?

Learning about her in school, her son just came with his wife and daughter yesterday and talked with us! It was very nice to meet her son! So cruel with these scientist did without her permission or her familes as well. Also yes she is mixed, white and black, if you read her story you'll know that her family came from white slaves called Lackes, on of the sons had a few kids with a slave, the slaves later changed their name to Lacks. Its definitely a tell all book, you learn about what everyone knows about her and overall i really think its very educational!! My book is signed by her son Sonny aka David Jr., his wife Sheryl and their daughter Jerri. Get the book and read it! Its without a doubt worth it. Also everyone should send in a letter about her being apart of Black History Month! She deserves to be credit, afterall, I think her cells did more than other person in this world!

Love this article. I do think the family is deservimg of compensation, but I can't help but to think of this question. Since the article says that the HeLa cells are the only ones to survive, "How many others were tested before her? And how was teirs taken? To know that hers were the only ones to survived there had to have been others tested. I'm just thinking.

There are a number of ways to look at this story. I think that taking and growing Henrietta's cells without her or her family's knowledge was a misguided act. I don't think that it was a racist act; altho the MD took and grew the cells without permission, we don't have his/her statement as to whether he/she would have done the same thing with a white woman's cells. We cannot make assumptions.

I can only hope that, while disturbed at how long it took them to be told their mother's story, they are also proud of her contributions to medical science.

Immortal cell lines such as HeLa cells are VITAL to continued medical advancements. Henrietta unwittingly (I won't say unwillingly) left behind an incredible gift to mankind. Isn't that what we all strive to do - leave something good behind when we die?

Not to take away from her blackness, but Henrietta's image appears to suggest whiteness as well. Not that the cells care one way or another or those who have benefitted from the research; it isn't a cause for judgement or pride one way or another. But espeically in a scientific article where genetics could be a big part of the story it seems irresponsible to skirt what seems obvious by her appearance. No one would or should attribute shame to Henrietta or her family if she was a little of every race on the planet...after all, we are all related anyway if you go back far enough.

African Americans have always been closed mouthed or secretive about what goes on in thier families. Being closed mouthed is apart of our culture for many valid reasons. Some of those reasons include not understanding many different illnesses. Mental Illness, for example, is a conditon largely denied and rejected in the African American community. It was the reason for under utilization of mental health resurces for so many years. There was a time when turburculosis was a "hushed utterance". It is possible that Henretta Lacks immediate family did did wich to talk about, share or provide information to her children because they did not want to tarnish her immage or "set tounghs a waggen about someone they loved dearley". We need to not just assume that people are at fault for not passing information along and "consider the age and the context in which people lived'. Further when much of the worlds goods,riches,oppertunities and resources are denied and witheld from a people then it cannot be automatically expected that that people would so learned as to know all that should be done. So much of what the African American has lived and endured has been criminalized, and dondemned. When she became ill her family could very well have been experienceing shame as well as grief and loss, and kept the situation silent to their children. What a lovely couple. My heart goes out to this family. Eleanor C. Harris

Many times overt passions, be they positive or typical, (negative), is the propellant for biased rhetoric. We have the first ethnically diverse American president, (coming from the two largest American groups. The glaring and sad truth is he is only recognized as black. Our president should at the very least, be recognized as the "olive branch"; placating the ideas, (real or imagined of all interested parties. Now, the clear divisive element in this story is the possibility of exploitation. However, clear and linear intelligence says: Slaves were dispensable items who typically died through winters, not having the luxury of shoes, any standard of clothing. "White"(acceptable) history reports of slave children freezing overnight, while holding lights outside for expected 'white" guests. Most of us "white" Americans have been advanced in some part, remotely or otherwise through the economics of slavery. Most of us Europeans arrived in America with our families intact, replete with clothing, money and the resource of FREEDOM. Imagine, if you dare, a fire in your home in the middle of night, hopefully, you are wearing pajamas. Whatever state you are FORCED to leave in, is the very state you will have to continue in. If that is not hard enough, dare to imagine the added hardship of seeing your children sold, or being that small child, speaking a foreign language and working for people who treated you like an animal. Yes, when intelligence allows true insight the positive outcome is true clarity. Please be aware that just about anyone who is wearing any type of precious jewelry gold, diamonds etc. could most likely be wearing stripped African resources. Now here is the outrageous punch line, when we see a minority we lock our car doors or clutch our collective purses. My obvious verdict in the case of Henrietta's children is one of mutual benefactors.

Not being a scientist I ask these questions gingerly. Do we not leave cells behind us constantly? Police collect samples of cells when doing DNA test without concent, do they not? When this occurred, cells were not a commodity. The only reason they are now is because of the persistence, genius and frankly, luck, of this doctor and others who followed. Discoveries such as this require us to reevaluate our thinking and make changes such as requiring concent and compensating for use but it is odd to suggest that you should retroactively compensate for something no one knew could happen.

Personally, I would be thrilled to learn that a family member's cells could have contributed to such incredible advancements and to saving so many people's lives. Had it happened that the cells came from a wealthy individual, would there still be a question of compensation? Would there even be a story that people are interested to read?

Lastly, If the donor's family is compensated retroactively and we think that is right, should we not look at the families of the researchers who were at least equally responsible for the success of the cells and make sure they were compensated? My hunch is that some big corporation and it's executives we're the ones to profit greatly for the marketing of the cells and not the researchers themselves. I would be interested to know if there is any reasearch on them.

Perhaps many commenting are unaware of the trillion dollar research industry. I do work in cancer research as a financial analyst. And, let me tell you patients are compensated. It may be just a small stipend, or it may be travel reimbursement. But most importantly they do not pay for the care they receive. They all sign a consent allowing the research institution to provide data and/or tissue to the study sponsor. If they did not consent to their tissue being used and the institution still used it, we would be shut down by the feds and open to all kinds of lawsuits.

The HeLa cell issue is a major wrong that should have been corrected. On many fronts, the family was entitled to compensation. The main one being that the cells were taken without consent. Today if your primary care doctor decided to take a sample from you and then sell it to a lab, you could sue the pants off your provider and anyone else involved. So to say the family is greedy and looking for a handout is malarkey. They are entitled to huge compensation. Without her cells polio would not have been eradicated, are you kidding me? This woman's cells have been at the center of major medical breakthroughs and you say they are being greedy when her very DNA was taken to benefit the rest of the world's population.

Maybe some of you would be more understanding if someone sat you down and specifically outlined how her cells have impacted your lives, your parents lives and your children's lives. Perhaps your tone would be quite different if someone said your child with leukemia would not have been able to get the treatments he/she gets without this poor tobacco farmer's cells. Maybe you'd be a little more sympathetic to their family.

I am the Executive Director of HANDS, Inc. (Helping and Nurturing from Diagnosis to Survival), as January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, we are hosting a private event to recognize the contribution of Ms. Henrietta Lacks with an open dialogue with individuals in the medical field, cervical survivors and special guest of the Henrietta Lacks family. We are doing our part in bringing the awareness of cervical cancer to the general public. Our agency focuses on Breast, Cervical and Ovarian cancer. If you would like to attend or find out more about what we do, please contact me at eclarke@handsforcancer.org

If I may correct myself in my commnet I said "...enzyme G6PD confers protection..." But, the deficiency of the G6PD enzyme confers protection against malaria!!!!! Thanks!

I find the comments regarding Mrs. Lacks intriguing. I learned of her contribution to the scientific world while in college in the 1960's at Howard University in Washington, D. C. However, an even more astonishing and remarkable uniqueness of the HeLa Cell is the fact that there is a distintive genetic marker associated with these cells called G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase)deficiency.This enzyme is X-linked as an inherited event with 400 million people world-wide and 300 variants with the dificiency. The enzyme G6PD confers protection againist developing malaria in insect prone environments. This marker assures and distinctively validates that the cells originally came from Henrietta Lacks.

Being an African American and a cervical cancer survivor I find this story bittersweet. I am pleased that in this month of Jan. which is Cervical Cancer Awarness Month that someone had the HEART! to write a book about this exceptional young woman and to remind people how important each of our lives are to the great circle of life. I regret the sad human factor of race and indifference that a person life can be stolen and not given the chance to really shine because one human being thought they were not worthy. I feel pain still for the family and friends that had to watch a love one die and then to learn 25 years later! That loved one still lives on in research without the families notice or compensation. I hope researcher's learn from this now and stop treating people as THINGS! God made ALL of us unique and wonderous that is why these researcher's do not "get it" of why these cells continue to grow it is because GOD TOLD THEM TO. Learn humans you are not the creator of yourselves and science just CONFIRMED! there is a God! Thank you Ms. Henrietta Lacks and your family for this gift of life!
Navita

I feel sorry for all of those who have posted comments stating the family should not be compensated. How do you look at yourselves in the mirror. Here is a family that lived in poverty without medical insurance and was asked to participate in this as well. Mrs. Lacks did not consent to have her cells used, therefore, they were stolen, she was robbed and so was her family and they continue to be robbed.

Unfortunately, we cannot overlook race either. In this country, the use of African Americans for experiemental research was common, let's not forget Tuskeegee!

In response to the comment made by Leslie, I think that the comment made saying "The story says the brothers couldn't have cared less about Mama until they heard money was involved, and then became obsessed. Just another set of greedy people." is extremely ignorant. It would be one thing if Henrietta's cells were distributed purely through the means of science, without profit or gain. However, this was not the case. Her cells created a million dollar industry, while her family could not even afford healthcare. This is not the case of being greedy, but a way of getting out of poverty. Many people, if told of possible riches, would do the same thing. Being greedy is irrelevant.

It may not be that the Lacks family is entitled to every penny of profit from the cells, but they should at least be able to live comfortably. After all, it was illegal to take the cells while she was still living without consent.

I am thankful to Ms. Henrietta Lacks for her life and that God placed her here to help millions. There is a reason for everyone's life and we surely know what Ms. Henrietta life meant to all of us and our families. Above money and or fame it is about a miracle blessing from God that worked through a lady that passed from this life but gave life to millions and is stilling living thru her cells still helping others. This proves there is a blessing in the midst of all sorrows and trials. Always look for a blessing in all the events that happens in our lives. Whether black or white rich or poor the cells did not choose certain races to save, it chose people. We are all the same in God's eyes. My gratitude to God first and to Ms. Lacks and her family for the blessing to all of us. Sincerely, Gayle Cowan Burton

This comes down to that many doctors and scientist tried for years , decades, to have cells live inside of a lab without any luck. However what makes HeLa, Mrs Henrietta Lacks unique is that - " Henrietta’s cells were the first immortal human cells ever grown in culture. They were essential to developing the polio vaccine. They went up in the first space missions to see what would happen to cells in zero gravity. Many scientific landmarks since then have used her cells, including cloning, gene mapping and in vitro fertilization."
No one in the world can duplicate these cells, it is a medical mystery. Do you understand the ramifications of being able to create the vaccine for Polio without harming a human in order to test it. For all these people such as the comment Posted by Leslie on November 10,2011 | 11:31 AM

Its has been confirmed truthfully via research, witnesses that the cells were taken without her consent. So get past that. Just because someone is poor , does not mean, they cant look beautiful and presentable in a picture. Your comments are unwarranted, ignorant and most of all without human compassion. Henrietta Lacks cells has done a great deal of help and yes god works for million of women, men and children. Lets not forget that. This family should not be poor, this family should not be disrespected as if they are only out to get money. Leslie did you consider your friends family siblings and children if you have any that have possibly been saved or treated for some of the basic things in medicine because of ms Lacks.

Her name should be known. You can donate a million dollars to a medical facility and get a hospital named after you , but you changed the evolution of medical science and helps millions of humans and some of you believe she & her family deserves nothing. Henrietta Lacks needs to be acknowledged .

Wow! This is remarkable. We as a people have sacrafice a tremendous amount of ourselves, whether we did willingly or not. We placed diamonds around Saturn, we created earth and man in our own image, and named everything that is in it. We even manned chariots, that traveled through the galaxies. We built cities, and invented almost everything that we use today. So, to compensate her family for her contribution? I think not. It would mean to acknowledge. It would have been easier to take and behave as though it were a given, during those times. As a black man or woman, you did not own yourself,you were considered a[Federal Citizen]. I am grateful to Mrs. Lacks, for her contribution in helping to cure and save the many lives, through the life God had given her. Without her being born, there would not have been a HELA CELL. Reluctantly, I'd have to include the research community. I just wonder now, if the HELA CELL discoveries, catapalted the discovery of the cancer drug interferon? I don't think anyone ask then either.

As an African-American female who has read the book and will lead a discussion of it for a book group in the near future, I have to say I think the lack of education played more of a role in understanding what happened to Henrietta Lacks' memory than the fact that she was Black. Her familycould not grasp the scientific side of what had happened to her cells, once they were informed. It was not common practice in 1951 to require informed consent from ANYONE regarding their tissues. Granted her family should have been given notification sooner than the 1970's that her cells were being used to create vaccines and to enhance the field of cell/tissue research. Also, granted they should receive some compensation for the billions of dollars in drug therapies that have resulted from experimentation with her cells. I think what is occurring now, with the Foundation and the Lacks' family website, will help. I pray Deborah is resting in peace because she seemed the most affected on a day-to-day basis. Her family could have given her more infomation about her mother's life but, for whatever reason, they did not. So it took Rebecca Skloot to try and help her come to terms with her mother's life, as well as her sister, Elsie's.

I just read the book. Interesting. it is unfortunate that the family did not get free medical care.

Read the book before you post a question, or an ill-advised statement. Seriously.

The comment from Jonathan is out right wrong until recently, the Lackes have received nothing and the proceeds from the book are partial in a foundation set up by the other author. The story is a sad one and a great one. Yes we have all benefited from Mrs Lackes and I for one will be forever greatful for what has come from the hela cells, but we all must recognize that her family has suffered a great deal due to ingnorance and the rules of Jim Crow. Her family was not educated and those who were believed that they knew better. As for John Hopkins, that hospital and the ward the Henrietta was treated was specially set for the poor and needy there. The author explains this extremely well in her book.
The one thing we overlook is this is the lack of is true informed consent. Whether she or the family understood is not relevent. Her(any)doctors, staff, researchers, etc should feel obligated to let patients know exactly what is going on regardless the situation. Witholding information is just a bad talking over some's head. Everyone knew what they were doing in her situation.
Compassion is what is needed in this situation for both the Lackes and the entire research world

How much money has been made by the drug companies that sell the life saving drugs? Without the cells, no research could be done.The drugs cost a fortune.Drug companies do NOTHING that does not create a profit.I do not see the point in discussing colour. I think the lack of education comes into play,more than race. Uneducated white people have been exploited.The family should be compensated, the researchers rewarded,the drug companies should make far less profit and stop exploiting people who are at their most vunerable.

leslie.. in the 1950's johns hopkins had a segregated free clinic for poor blacks.. so some of the poor treatment she underwent probably was because she was black.

I really disagree with all the comments saying that the family doesn't deserve any financial compensation. It's border lines racism,stupidity,and ignorance. African Americans have done so much for this country. And now with the HeLa cells....the world. It's sad that people still under estimate,under value, and marginalize black people accomplishments to society. Also when organs are donated they then ate sold for profit. And everytime I have given blood I was paid for it. We live in a capitalistic world. Everything gas a profit motive.

How does a dirt-poor Virginian farmer with cancer end up at Johns Hopkins? Most dirt poor farmers with cancer in those days ended up in the poor ward in a state or city hospital. She looked pretty stylish and well-dressed in her photos. There's something that just doesn't add up, here. Perhaps the doctor did ask her permission, but she didn't say anything to her husband or family. Perhaps the doc did tell her husband, but apparently he didn't understand or think much of it. Back then, people didn't expect compensation for donating bodies to science, or cells, for that matter.

Should we pay millions to everyone (and their descendants) who has donated stem cells? Breast tissue? Blood? The story says the brothers couldn't have cared less about Mama until they heard money was involved, and then became obsessed. Just another set of greedy people.

Geoffrey, I'm sorry, but in light of your terrible spelling and grammar, I can't believe you are a doctor. An MD? Seriously, Geoffrey, that's hard to swallow.

Why is nothing said of the researcher who discovered that Henrietta's cells had contaminated practically all cancer research labs around the world making most, if not all, cancer research at the time invalid? And the condemnation of this researcher and the cover up of all the useless research because of careless lab proceedures around the world for fear of decrease of donations? This guy, whos name I forget, should be given credit for putting cancer research back on track and vastly improving lab techniques to prevent contaminations.

Secondly, about the family being "greedy" by wanting some compensation, as someone has pointed out below - the family knew nothing about any of this until some researchers came knocking at their door needing to run more tests on them. Some scientist or researcher who made initial contact did a very poor job of explaining to them what was really happening and why they should help out. The family felt confused and under pressure to comply with demands for more tissue samples because they were under the impression that they might get CANCER. They also thought that their mother was STILL ALIVE and being EXPERIMENTED UPON!!! The mind boggles at this.

People who are unwilling to think about the unfortunate class and race dynamics at hand here need to re-think their own privilege - the privilege to have an education, to understand what cells are, to actually be CAPABLE of giving informed consent - all of this, you are taking for granted. Think about your own privilege before you judge other people for not reacting the same way that you think you would in their situation.

Some strange comments on this article.

Someone below actually complained about calling Henrietta Lack a "poor farmer" and said, instead, that she was a "farmer's wife." One commentor even stated that "if she [HeLa} had been a poor farmer, she would have had to have been rich enough to hire men to work the farm with her, which would mean she was not poor." Um. Have you ever worked in a farm? Both of my grandparents were POOR FARMERS, both the man and the woman. They both farmed. Their kids all worked on the farm. They still barely had enough to scrape by. Women can be farmers too....in addition to being wives, mothers, homemakers, etc.

Call her a farmer's wife or a farmer, whatever, but what troubles me more is the implication that this woman did not really work, or that she somehow was not truly poor or truly disadvantaged. Are you seriously going to make that argument about a working-class black woman who died of cancer in the 1950s in America? For shame. Even if she was somehow "middle class," she was not in a society that granted her equal rights. The power dynamics at hand here are important, and they still are important, as evinced by her family's reaction to being approached again by researchers.

It is highly unethical to use any part of a human being's anatomy for experiments, cells inclusive. The family should give their permission first, and the terms clearly outlined. HeLa cells were God's gift to Ms. Lacks.

I grew up in American and I love science. People will always complain about the things they don't understand. Really the whole money thing is no business of anyone who commented. Mind your own business. However, the benefit to the world via cell experimentation is the business of everyone who can benefit from it.To the racists of many colors who commented ... Ask yourself if it would have mattered if the patient was not black? Would you make the same comments? When it comes to science you should check your bias at the door.

To the science lovers...
Aren't you glad that the doctor had the foresight to know that her cells had the potential to provide science with information that could cause amazing change? Imagine all the people that were helped.

To all the haters...
She wasn't the only "person" whose cells were harvested for the greater good of mankind. Her family wasn't educated enough to understand the concept 25 years after she died, so really... Just what did you expect the doctor to ask? What kind of consent would he have asked for? Really?

In short, people always make drama when there is money involved. People always make drama when the hint of race is mentioned. Misery loves company. FOCUS on the greater good.

If we are going to cure disease and save lives, it takes forward thinking docs like the one who knew she was too under educated to understand even if he tried to get a consent (by the way how do you know he didn't inform her by saying I am going to take a look at your cells) and took the cells anyway. Look how much good it did for us all. We all take some kind of benefit from what happened so there really isn't anything anyone can truly say about what happened. We can only place better ethical practices in specimen collection and use careful methods of procurement.

HeLa cells aren't just being used for altruistic purposes. Huge profits are being made, with that as the motivation. Why should we require altruism from a donor but not the recipient(s)of the product? If "the greater good" is the purpose or expectation of the donation, let that intention follow the product wherever it goes.

As a physician I do have concerns about "informed consent". WHat I can gather is Mrs. Lack the patient was not appropriately consented.
The Lack family lives in poverty without health insurance? Mrs, Lack's cells have helped to save millions of lives and assisted in launching a billion dollar a year industry.
Yes, the Lacks deserve financial compensation as we all would. The arguement one writer suggested about blood donors was amusing.

Henrietta Lacks was lucky to be treated by physicians at Johns Hopkins. They didn't "steal" anything from her. The legacy of her cells is amazing because of the creativity and ingenuity of the scientists that found ways to use them and should remind all readers that education is and always has been the way to break the color barrier and create a better society.

I think that this was an amazing discovery and feat by the Johns Hopkins medical team that were able to "make" the cells immortal. I find any opposition to the positive nature of the action (however biased, unbiased or the reasons behind) as ignorant. I am sure hospitals and research groups across the country and globe were taking cultures for patients to perform routine tests on, and this particular culture was able to produce immortal cells. It is unbelievable and became essential for research then, today, as well as in the future.

THE LACKS FAMILY CONTINUES TO RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THROUGH HBO DEALS AND DONATIONS WHILE MILLIONS OF OTHERS CONTINUE TO SUFFER. IS IT RIGHT THAT 20 MILLION DONATE BLOOD EVERY YEAR AND DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING WHILE THE LACKS FAMILY CONTINUES TO PRESS FOR MORE. FROM THE LEGAL STAND POINT, THERE WAS NO LAW AGAINST TAKING THE TISSUES AND EX POST FACTO PREVENTS THESE COMPANIES FROM HAVING TO PAY ANY MONEY. THE CELLS ARE USELESS WITHOUT ALL THE WORK OF THE SCIENTISTS, THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE THE MONEY AND THE PATENTS, NO THE LACKS FAMILY.

Mrs. Lacks and her family were undoubtedly treated very poorly by Johns Hopkins. In large part because of her case, the procedures for tissue procurement and patient consent have changed dramatically. I wouldn't be so sure that paying patients for their diseased tissue is a cure-all, however. It creates an incentive to give consent where one might not ordinarily do so. From there, do we pay people to provide the organs of their deceased relatives for transplantation? Then why not those of living people as occurs in the 3rd world? There is a reason why selling our body parts is generally not possible to do.

P.S. She wasn't a DONOR. That was INvoluntary. Do you get that? You are making overarching assumptions, is all I am trying to say. No hard feelings.

To Ms. Phipps, how horrible for you to say those things. You have no right. Congratulations on your extensive vocabulary and highly opinionated verse, however (presuming you are white and/or come from some kind of privilege), I am assuming you have no idea how hard it may be to struggle under Western white patriarchy. I am white, however I'm not one of those babbling conservatives who tries to convince themselves that we live in a "post-racial" society and that opportunities are equal for white people as well as those of color. Clearly you can't understand that at that period of time, women (especially Black women) could work day in and day out, and have a difficult time becoming scientists or even having access to schooling. You clearly have a very distorted view of the world. Your words:

"They never told ME.. For this, they really owe. Yes. They breached the ownership/privacy of my to-be-discarded, diseased cells. More than half of the profits, that's what I think."

They do owe. Do you have any clue how many women of color are subject to "test trials" of birth controls and medications so white privilege can prevail? Yes, I believe you need to open your mind before making such harsh assumptions about this woman's life.

Yeah, well it's all great for scientific research/discoveries and everything, but how about getting the donor's permission before you steal their body stuff! And how about compensation to her family? Has that happened? Typical racist attitude. Remember Tuskegee experiment! That's why many conscious people of color do not trust Dr.s and medical industry!!!!

To the Lacks family I just want to say thank you. I am currently on a medication that was likely developed via testing on Henriettas' cells. I am healthy now and while I may be unable to help you financially (I cannot afford health insurance either) I will be praying that you recieve due compensation for what your family has gone through.

Fascinating book on a very important subject. Because of her cells immortality so many and varied changes have come about in the fields of health, science, ethics, etc.
It is interesting to follow the maze of discoveries, ethical implications, etc. that actually stem from just trying to solve one problem. Who would have ever been able to predict where it has all led to from that first procedure.

My question is are they any more studies connected to the family on the living cell and if so are they findings are the same as Mrs. Lacks

...On second thought, inadequate. (Continued thoughts of liver donor w/cancer) I avow that any monies resulting from sales of a liver curative be funneled to me as well. After all, they were MY cells. Special cells. I didn't come up with a cure myself. Didn't help to fund research investigating cell structure. Don't know a thing about this subject nor want to. Didn't put myself through school half of my young adult life so that I could understand the workings of cells and apply that understanding for the benefit ALL mankind. No, none of this contribution is mine...only cellular matter of a particular organ overrun with disease. Nevertheless, I feel I MUST claim the profits. I deserve to be compensated for the inventions of these scientists and years of their hard studies on MY cells. The money belongs to me, to my descendants. Especially since I wasn't told a portion of my diseased liver tumor would be used for further testing. Rather than dispose of it, (the only other alternative), a portion was utilized to conduct studies. They never told ME.. For this, they really owe. Yes. They breached the ownership/privacy of my to-be-discarded, diseased cells. More than half of the profits, that's what I think. Well, maybe 80 percent considering the consternation and "confusion" it caused my family. ...?

Anyone who would make a demon of the science that discovered a polio vaccine has lost their bearings...and never had polio. Should we be further shackled by this impoverished mentality and be legally obligated to anyone who donates, for instance, their blood? If the recipient of a transfusion recovers her health and goes on to become a multi-millionaire, does the donor now have legal rights to the profits? After all, THEIR blood was used in the restoration of a to-be-millionaire's health. Say, 40%?

Where does the ignorance and greed end?

Interesting story. But had there not been a medical community, or even one individual of superior ingenuity, intellect, and invention dedicating their mind and life's efforts to the discovery of a polio vaccine, there would be no story. Without the genius of those scientists, diseased cells of any man, woman, or child sitting in test tubes mean nothing to no one. Even "special" cells become special by the dedication and tireless effort of an inquiring, scientific mind. How someone can think it's right to compensate a donor and demonize the one who actually invents the vaccine is beyond rational bounds.

If I had a diseased liver and donated my cells to medical science, should I expect...better yet, do I deserve a portion of the profit from sales of a curative, or other beneficial human invention that used my cells in its studies? How absurd. Exactly what did it "cost" me to give the microscopic matter of my diseased liver? Nothing. Oh but, my cells were "special". Science doesn't know why entirely, but the uniqueness of my cells provided years of profitable outcomes in the form of medicines and the like. Perhaps to insist they be returned to my descendants, or re-injected back into my diseased buried organs is not entirely unreasonable because, after all...they belong to ME! THAT would be giving back exactly what I MYSELF gave.

I am so very happy my sister gave me this copy to read. It reaffirms why women of Afrikan descent distrust medical personnel of other cultures. Her family she definitely receive monetary compensation for the thief that has occurred and the profits gained by others in the "medical field". Thank you for the wealth of information Rebecca Skloot. I hope it materializes into a movie adaptation for all consumers.

This is a shocking story from start to finish! Its amazing how the legal system of a country can beat up bash and steal from the underprivilaged and in prison these people for pathetic nuisance crimes such as stealing from a grocery store perhaps a chocolate bar and yet turn a blind eye to the thieving of white collar criminals who steal billions of dollars of intellectual and personel property from these underprivilaged people.

Why has,nt a big legal firm stepped in to help the family???

Why has,nt the government stepped in to help the family???

Why has,nt Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates stepped in to help the family an by this I mean to use there power of influence not their money to get the ball rolling in the Lack Families finacial interest???

I have to smile when I hear that the medical fraturnity are all about ethics and being above board and reproach???

Where is their ethics when it ccomes to paying stealing from a poor black woman and her family??? Each knowing full well that the cells stollen from the Lack family make them billions of dollars when they on cell them etc.

Please help me to understand why there is such disgusting greed within the medical proffesion in that they cannot find some way to pay them compensation for the Lack families loss and disgusting treatment.

I hope some one out there with the resources can help the Lack family get their entitlements.

I am a student currently working toward a degree in Biology. I bought this book to read while on vacation and was not able to put it down! Excellent book for those that understand the intricacies of Biology and for those that like a good read! I highly recommend it!

Among the many admirable accomplishments of Rebecca Skloot is her donating a portion of her book profits to Henrietta's descendants. Skloot's perseverance and patience during her research are feats that grace her journalistic talents as she weaves her amazing stories into a tapestry of wonder. The awful mixture of tragedy and discovery as experienced by Henrietta's family whets the reader's empathy. Maybe Rebecca will write a follow-up of the Lacks family story.

Upon reading this extraordinary real life story, I found myself experiencing quite a range of emotions.

Science has often "utilized" minorites to further their research without informing their patients or by lying to them. Many of these experiments are not always for the good of man but instead to document the damage that many things can do to a human body, which they have many unehtical reasons for. These patients, often times poor and uneducated, simply believe it is in their best interests. They & their families are exploited and this information is only exposed long after most people would question it.

On the other hand,science does needs cells in order to cure many diseases and illnesses. I'm sure many people would be willing to volunteer if it was for a good cause, they were honestly informed, and, they and their families compensated.

Then comes the realization that many contributions have been in fact contributed by minorites. Many are by quite a few Black men and women who have recieved little recognition, compensation and are eventually forgotten in history, with some unrelated person(s) reaping the rewards. Very few people actually know history beyond schools textbooks, filled with no true substance.

Positively, unequivocally, this family should be compensated. It should have done long ago. Anything less goes beyond lack of principals or morals. It's heartless and cruel.

I"m still reading the book , but I understand the anger of the family and frustration . Whatever happend Ms Larcks memory will never died its a honor to know that her cells are so important in science.
My question is ?/I have a special needs daugther .I read that Ms Lacks had a daugther Elsie who was special.I wonder if our cervix have anything to do with having a kid with special needs.thanks

I'm stunned! It's fascinating how someone changed the lives of so many and the medical history without even knowing it...I mean there was a higher purpose to her life that she didn't recognize or wasn't even aware of but yeah she touched and changed so many lives... There was more to her been born in this planet at the time that she did then she would ever know, here is someone that otherwise would have gone unknown wasn't for the "misfortune" of her illness, I'm baffled at the precision and timing in which this event took place, I can't say it enough but her purpose in life or death was to be part of the medical revolution but she was not to know about it... In a way she is as immortal as her cells!

I am reading the book; one of the most interesting I have ever read. Almost all comments are about the justice in compensating Henrietta Lacks family; and I agree on that, but the most important thing is what science has done with those cells, that were taken from Mrs Lacks, without her knowledge or consent. I wonder if she had been asked and had said no, where would we be? Would we have polio vaccine? Cancer research done with those cells would be in the same stage it is now? Many people said we should thank Mrs Lacks, and I agree on that but we also have to thank to the thousands of scientists that worked with Mrs Lacks cells.

Today, patients sign away their rights to many things, including the harvesting of tissue samples. This is a question of ethics, the fifties vs. now (2011). In the case of Henrietta Lacks, I'm sure the doctor(s) who took the original tissue samples had absolutely no idea how significant this would be for scientific exploration and discovery. They could not have fathomed how far-reaching this would be. However, when vials of Ms. Lacks tissues were made available for sale, and huge, huge profits were/are being made, someone should have thought about the legal ramifications as it pertains to compensation to the patient's family. Without a doubt, the immediate family should be compensated.

The story of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks stayed hidden for over 25 years and her husband never understood the circumstances surrounding the death of his wife, but because of his lack of education, things should be left as they are. Henrietta's family should be compensated without a doubt simply because it is the right thing to do. There are some wrongs that should be corrected and this is one of them. Their mother died at the age of 30, shouldn't her family know her life had meaning, the time stolen from her now middle aged children.

So was her life worthless as with the other victims that were also injected during this time of using humans as guinea pigs.
There should be an established funding for the survivors of those victims. I feel as though it is the only way you could give these people some type of justice for their suffering.

i am reading the book with some pl at my nursing home and i really love it i have a hard time puting it down. in so many ways im happy that the cells are being used to help pl. i think if mrs lacks knew what her cells could do for the world she would not mind them taking her cells. i just hope her cells could help sickel cell, aids and many other sicknesses. and to her family, thank you and may god bless u all and be happy that god has put her in a place where she can help you and many others.

to the writer thanks for looking into this story and getting the facts to share with us. because without you many of us may have never knowned about mrs. lacks and her cells. it helps me to keep hoping that i and many others well oneday be cured of the sickness we bear.

thank you thank you thank you!

I started to read this book and I can't put it down. I can't imagine the injustice done to patients in the past and the controversy it started concerning ethics. Thanks for writing this book and opening our eyes to the horrors of the past. I've only read 1/3 of the book and I'm having some difficulty in understanding how some of our scientists didn't see the ethical complexities. Yes, the Nuremburg ethics should be observed by everyone.

I have just finished reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" for college reading and I'm very glad I was assigned to read this incredible story of one woman who unknowingly changed modern science. It is very interesting to learn about something that affects everyone, but no one really thinks about. Ethical and emotional stress only inhances this book and accurately portrays the life and feelings of the Lacks family. Everyone should read this book to know about how modern science has come to be and also the history of our nation concerning medical practices.

ONCE AGAIN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN ARE LIFTING UP SO MANY OTHERS! THIS IS A STORY THAT SHOULD BE TOLD WORLDWIDE. IT IS TOO EXTRAORDINARY AND AWESOMELY INSPIRING TO BE KEPT SO SECRETIVE. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. THE FAMILY SHOULD BE COMPENSATED ROYALLY FOR ALL THAT THEIR MOTHER HAS MADE POSSIBLE. NOT TO DO THIS IS A CRIME BEFORE GOD AND HUMANITY. YOU CANNOT PAY FOR THIS BUT YOU CERTAINLY CAN MAKE AN EFFORT TO SHOW HOW BLESSED WE ALL ARE BECAUSE OF HER CELLS AND THAT WE APPRECIATE WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR THE WORLD! TELL THIS STORY TO YOUR CHILDREN NOW!

Why aren't they compensated? Big companies are making big profits. At the point anyone knew of this violation the compensation should have kicked in.These companies could have controlled lobbists who culled our representatives into making choices/laws which could have effected their profit margins. Okay, so I'm a little on the conspiracy but...

Yes the Lacks family should benefit from their mother's gift to humanity. We all can help and show our thanks by donating the Henrietta Lacks Foundation that was set up by Rebecca Sloot.

It would have been nice if Henrietta's family could have somehow benefited from the HeLa cells; like maybe getting some health care or recognition or *something*. Shameful that human beings could be so misused after the "lessons" we learned from Nazi Germany.

Every time we have a pap smear taken or a biopsy given cells are removed and tested. We, all of us, are vulnerable to cell research. I don't have the answer to what is ethically right or wrong but we can all thank Mrs. Lacks for her tremendous contribution to the human race. I'm glad she has been celebrated the world over. It's so sad, though, that she never knew how much she helped to make the world a better place for all of us.

/An outstanding contribution to the future of the human race. I'm sure she knows, and is tickled to death that she could improve the quality of human life!!!

Henrietta contributions to science should be honored as well as compensated.Some one should have explained to the family what really happened with Henrietta's body and asked if they understood.

I am reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and can't put it down.

Mrs. Lacks made tremedous contributions to humanity, beyond the scientists imaginations.

The family is entitled to some compensation but more important Henrietta's story needs to be told again and again. It's incredible.

Patti Harrison

Magnificent piece of information. Im ecstatic to get my hands on the book and get an even deeper understanding of the whole situation.

All of us owe a debt of gratitude to Henrietta Lacks for her contribution to medicine. Likewise, we owe Ms. Skloots a debt of gratitude for her exposure of medical practices that existed in the 1950s. Few of us knew about those practices and believed that they could not have happened here in our U.S.A. The most unethical, if not criminal, she presented in her book was the injection of cancerous cells in unknowing individuals without their knowledge and without advance knowledge that it would not cause cancer in the subject. This practice has to be equated to the medical practices of Nazi Germany during WW II.

I just started reading this story and it is fascinating. I think the family should be compensated, but more importantly, what this woman has done for society is amazing and should not be ignored. I'll get back to you when i finish the book.

I just fished the book. I enjoyed it tremendously. I could not put it down. I appreciate the advancements in science that came from the research but I do feel that the Lacks should have been compensated for the taking of the cells without the family knowledge. I hope that someday they will be compensated. It's great that this book was written and that Henrietta can be properly recognized. The author did a fabulous job with delivering the details. I hope that one day a documentary movie is made. I highly recommend reading this educational book.

To examine the racist implications of this story is not to say that the situation would or would not have been different with regards to a white woman's cells. I intend to read the book soon, however I read an excellent article about Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa Cell line that takes what seems to be a different approach to the story:
“Feminist Intersections in Science: Race, Gender and Sexuality Through the Microscope” by Lisa Weasel (2004)

What a story, I will buy the book to put in my collection.
It will be a great story for my grandchildren to read.

The fact that she was black makes this who thing about cells differ.

The black race is the greatest race to how given so much to sscience without anything other than not wanting the world to know Mrs. Lacks was a black women. A strong and beautiful black women. Who had a problem and someone took her cells for science.

Black Female Power--Power to all people in this land. Most of all power to the scienist all overe the world.

Henrietta Lacks and her family should not only be compensated for her cells and the contributions it had on mankind all over the world but what we learned from the research should be taught to our young in schools all over the world. Racism is a terribly disease.

I was told that there would be no money made off my cells (mcf10 cells). How wonderful it would be if all the research was open and freely exchanged. I question why a patent was required on my cell line (John Moore's and others). What is the patent protecting? If I can't own my own tissue, why should anyone else. Unfortunately there is a business side to medicine, that is why there is questions about the ethics involved. If I wrote a song, donated a peice of art work, wrote a book,etc. things would be different. The problems facing the medical community are many. I don't have the answers, I do know that things are changing. People are becomming aware. And thats a good thing.

I think it is totally amazing that this was being done in the 50's. What gave the idea to the Dr. to use these cells. When they were first examined under the microscope for biopsy, did the doctor notice something pecticular then and sent them off to one of his buddy doctor friends? Who else/or other cells have been used in this way? I don't think there were any racial ideas when this occurred. I work in healthcare and these cells were just concidered cells and the opportunities that could come from them only. Totally awesome.

Mrs. Lacks contributed to science and helped millions isn't that enough. Some compensation is needed for her and her family. Interesting story for sure.

I think that these scientisit were wrong for taking this womans cells without her knowledgee or permission but at the same time I'm in a way glad they got the cells. If they hadn't were might we be today! There was a much better way of going about it though.

that biology teacher that introduced hela cells was my grandfather. Im glad that he inspired a book

I read the book about Heneritta Lacks and her family. I feel like they were taken advantage of because of the color of their skin and lack of education. They deserve compensation from the companies that made money from the HE-LA cells. It is indeed sad when people are taken advantage of. They deserve better .

there are human beings behind it. yes

Well. Same old same ol'. This is the premise on which this entire culture is based. Stealing the contributions of people of color & using them to the advantage of the thief, ONLY. No need to elaborate on the snivly whining I'm seeing here. The COUNTLESS truths concerning the contributions of Africans in general are not welcomed news to ANYONE who is not of that ilk. In fact, the truth of the matter is that the vastly UNtold history @ people of African descent is too much for non-Africans to take. Her genetic makeup-one which includes Melanin- dictates true immortality

And-by the way- her family SHOULD- BY ALL MEANS-BE COMPENSATED.

There is no clear answer with regards to compensation for the family. Could society put a price tag on such an amazing event? My first thought was "no one should be compensated for a life saving tool such as this, this is the duty of everyone living in a civilized society." However, after reading (Susan Cutting) remarks, I realized (as a business owner) I must pay for every aspect of operating my business, nothing is free or given to me. However, we live during a time when it is frowned upon to compensated the poor and "the way it should be" to give breaks to the wealthy. In other words, I hear the argument of "why should the family receive compensation when they did nothing at all to help develop the formulas or research, when Mrs. Lacks only provided a worthless tool (the cells)." The truth is...the formulas were worthless without the immortal cells. The formulas can be made by man over and over again. Can the labs, scientist or man in general create these cells? Mrs. Lacks and Susan Cutting deserve more respect than this!

I just finished reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Wow! I had so many emotions about it. I think it's a very human response to think "but what about me?"... The times were so different then. I don't think anything would have been different if HeLa came from a white person...the Lacks were an uneducated black family, they could have easily been an uneducated white family, there were and are plenty of them as well. Just like so much in history, I am glad we learn as we go. One day future generations will be appalled that we legalize abortion...millions of babies killed out of convenience..and the government pays for it. We learn as we go.

so amazing..

The cancer cells removed from Henrietta Lacks had no intrinsic value to her or anyone else. The only value this cell line has is due to the education, training and diligence of the scientists who took this worthless material and turned it into a tool that could be used to help others. Removing the tumor from Mrs. Lacks was helpful to her. Did she really want to keep the tumor? Would she have objected to their using part of it for scientific purposes if asked? I don't understand why the family thinks they have money coming. I also don't understand the racism angle. She had advanced cervical cancer at the time she went to Johns Hopkins. Based upon the science at the time, they did everything they could for her. Treatment wasn't withheld for the purpose of acquiring these cells to turn into profit as appears to be suggested here. I doubt the scientists knew they could propagate these cells at the time. The family should be proud that her cells are used to help others, but I don't see why they should receive compensation.

I think what the scientist did was under-handed but in his eyes was the only way to find out more about a mysterious cell that had never been seen before and we all know that back in those times no one in the white world cared or wanted a black person to profit from anything .

Agreed, Jane. Researched and written with uncompromising truth in every page. This book tells the reader how life was for the Lacks family in Virginia in 1930 - 1950, simultaneously explaining the predicament the medical research system was in at exactly the same time. It covers the flaws and strengths of the Lacks family as they dealt with life without Henrietta; Ms. Skloot also examples medical research miracles achieved as a result of HeLa, as well as unflinchingly examining the injustices and attrocities carried out in some cases in the process of achieving these miracles that today save or extend lives, or prevent diseases altogether. Just by telling the facts of the story, without any appearance of bias other than those she addresses in the Forward section of the book, Ms. Skloot achieves what she set out to achieve - to answer, for herself, and then for the family, who Henrietta Lacks was. In the process, she managed to give all of us a personal heroine and progenitor in our collective efforts towards better health - AND better humanity.

This is so fascinating on so many levels- scientific, socio-economic, historic, spiritual. I look forward to reading this book.

Once again, African American contributions are swept under the rug. Come on people! This was a human life and it was treated like an animal. How inconsiderate and inhumane. This sickens and saddens me. The scientist wouldn't even have the research without her. So to say that the scientist did all the work and made all of the contributions is ridiculous. If it weren't for her cells this probably wouldn't have started. Once again, society sneaks and lies about something and then covers it up with science. The cells were taken without her knowledge and many have profited from it but her family hasn't. They didn't even know this was going on. The is an outrage!

My tissue was taken in 1986. A immortal cell was developed called mcf10.Both of our cell lines are usued in many of the same studies. Much of what happened to Henrietta also happened to me. She was 30, I was 36. She was black, I am white. My cells are now being sold commercially for $6000 a vial. The courts say no one has any rights to their tissue after it leaves your body. Many people don't agree.
This brings up many ethical questions. I'm not sure of the answers. I do know its a question of being treated "honorably". You be the judge.

As a scientist who has worked with cell culture, I would agree that Mrs. Lacks family should be compensated, since the tissue was taken from Mrs.Lacks without her permission, and so many companies have made tons of money off the research (and discoveries) based on these cells. Mrs. Lacks involuntary contribution has helped millions of sick people - it makes no difference that her family did not conduct the research - these medical discoveries would not have been possible without her cells, and her family is not being selfish in demanding some repayment. If Mrs. Lacks had been a wealthy or middle class white woman, I would not feel any differently - her contribution deserves recognition and compensation.

In cases that deal with African Americans, by American terms, all is fair. HeLa cells were crucial to the science world and its advancement. This is true. Therefore, a legacy should have been established within her family. Look at the generations of wealth that exist in white society because of their contributions to whatever it may be... The Johnson and Johnson Company, Rockefellas, etc. How many other ideas, contributions, and patent have we as a people created or are a part of and no credit is given. We are not even mentioned in history books, as in the case with Henrietta. She has cells that DO NOT DIE!!!!! WOW But because she is black people feel that this is insignificant!!!! Come on people.... Let's be real here!!!! Her family deserves what she should have received when it was determined that she had cells that would be used for the advancements of science and medicine and the pharmaceutical companies for a lifetime. They make billions of dollars from her but she, her family, her legacy receive nothing!!!! It's the American way!!! Blacks are still considered to be property in some peoples eyes. Her body , her genes, her cells alll belong to her slave master..the U.S. of A. If you feel that her family doesn't need to be compensated, you are a part of that culture that is still stuck with Pre Civil War mentality! Good Day!!!

Her family deserves to be at least given health insurance.

to those of you downing the lacks family for how they came upon the issue and reacted, you must know that they were of low economic standing and such people are usually out to gain. from a Socially moral standpoint it's pointless carving up the lives of people who caught the short end of the educational/material acquisition stick.

what kills me is how selfish the family is with wanting money form the profits of hela cells when they did absolutely nothing to contribute to the research, the experimentation and hard work these scientist did. So they gave some of their own samples and was supposedly lied to about what for. Give me a break! Shame on them for not realizing what they were giving consent for. When you grow up you are responsible for your own actions. That means if your uneducated you go get education, if you have no money go get a job, if you gave consent and then say you had no idea what you were consenting to then shame on you, lied to or not you should have gotten it in writing. The whole attitude of the family is woe is me and "whats in it for me?" This whole attitude that the world owes us something is ridiculous.
I know a few people who have had absolutely horrific childhoods and grew up in poverty. They decided to lead a life not of crime but to be productive members of their community!

I read the book and the family turned me off completely. They just remind me of being so money hungry. My mother died of horrible progressive breast cancer and her surgeons removed a tumor the size of a golf ball from her brain. I would not care if they took her tissue and made millions off it. Mind you in the book its says the hela cells did help find a vaccine for polio and many great contributions to science. So if they found a cure or treatment or vaccine for some horrible disease using my mothers tumor cells and made millions or billions I would not care. Consent or not! The doctor did everything he could to save my mothers life. I would feel like I was dishonoring my mothers memory if I wanted money for her tissues. I feel that the family does not deserve money for the research or discoveries made by using the cells, they had nothing to do with it! as far as poverty goes I am currently living in poverty my solution is to go to school and get a job.

I read where Elvis Presley's hair is being sold by the strand at many thousands of dollars per strand! I'm not a sueing type person either,however, as I have had several cancer operations, have fibromyalia,, etc. and found out that just about EVERYONE's medical records are sold to health and science stdies, there are days when I wih I had some of the money that was made from cells! I have been homeless mselfa few times and ill which is the kind of thing that contributed to my illness. All that study and all the money in the world and therestill i no cure! So shameful.

When I first read the HeLa story I was astonished and bewildered and simply thought 'here we go again' another group of poor blacks being ripped off again by the white establishment and to some extent I still feel that way. I feel sure thet if it was a poor white woman the whole thing would have been treated differently. However, if she was white and middle class or rich, it would have been given yet another treatment.

I personally feel that for the millions of dollars the scientific community generated as a result of the sale of HeLa cells, some recompense should be given to the her family, God knows enough perfect strangers have enriched themselves over the years.

I first heard about HeLa cells in 1970 when I was a medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine. We were told the cell line was from a patient named “Helen Lake” who was naturally assumed to be a white patient since we were never told differently. It should be made clear that even into the late 1980’s doctors would take “contributions” of tissues from patents with no permission. At the University of Kentucky any dead body could be stripped of thin layers of skin to bed applied as a temporary treatment for burn wounds. Since the dead patient was in a state hospital apparently the permission was granted upon admission. We also routinely took skin from specimens removed from operative patients also to be placed on our burn patients. Once the tissues were removed the specimen was ours to use as was needed. There was no racial bias; in fact, most of what was used came from white patients. Today with HIV-AIDS and other diseases such practices are barred. In the current system of informed consent for both the donors and the recipients such activities are no longer acceptable. Truly the HeLa cell line has helped thousands of people. I hope her family can come to grips with the use of Henrietta Lacks’ cells since we cannot go back to judge the past in view of today’s enlightened ideas.

This is frightening & infuriating!

All that we are is our own flesh/blood/bone. It is our true person property.

Regardless if the cells were cancerous or not..they were of the flesh of Mrs. Lacks. They were taken & experimented apon; bought & sold without her/her family's knowledge or permission.

Regardless of the medical achievements..It is an insult & a crime of science!

It goes on. States have been collecting babies DNA/tissue samples, and parents are fighting to retrieve this for fear of their children being unable to get insurance/employment in the future.

This is profiteering in the worst way.

As one who just finished reading this book yesterday, I really wish that people would read the book in its entirety before commenting here. It is excellent, thorough, well-researched and accessible. To comment without reading the book oversimplifies the issue and does an injustice to Henrietta Lacks, the Lacks family, decades of medical researchers and research, and Rebecca Skloot.

I am reading this book for UCSB and it is one of the best book I have read. The touching story and incredible will of Henrietta is one everyone should know. Spread the good word of Henrietta Lacks and her triumphant success in modern medicine. Yes ladies and gentlemen we need to acknowledge that an AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN has led the world in modern medicine!!

Doesn't surprise me for them not to acknowledge a Black woman, this is what they have been doing with all the knowledge they acquired, all stemming from Ancient Egypt, Black people.

Hearing and reading about this I would have to say I'm deeply deeply saddened that we have come a long way but not far enough

That is a really touching story.

This story is so intersting. My heart breaks for the young Henrietta. I hope she knows from her special place in Heaven the good she left behind. What a special woman. I had cervical cancer in the advanced stages 21 years ago, I am fine to this day and got to raise my daughter-probably due to the research this angel has left us. I hope and pray the family is doing well and will be given A LOT of money. Maybe they don't want it, but I feel they deserve it. I guess from now on I will include thanking Henrietta when I say my blessings to God. She may well be the reason I am alive. Blessings to her family also. I am going to buy the book and spread her name and her wonderful goodness to others.
Lorin

Igot to know of the HeLa cells only week before last because of a History course: Gender, Race and Medicine and I agree with the comments that the article demonstrates the issues of more class and gender then race. Henrietta was a woman, therefore in that period the general assumption was that a woman's body is not control by her. I am sure that there were women attendants at John Hopkins, assisting the doctors with the cells research but little was recognize by them. In addition, the fact that Henrietta was poor, was another tool use by the doctors to harness the cells from her without seeking approval from her or her family. Furthermore, I do ask myself if it was a white woman would she experience the same treatment and I think the answer could be yes. Suffice it to say,Henrietta cells have contributed significantly to research.

As a scientist I am well aware of the impact HeLa cells have had and still have on research and our knowledge of human biology and pathology. As an amateur historian, I am well aware that taking materials from people without consent or reimburmsement was common practice in those days, and not race related. The poorer people were abused more than the richer. African american sor other ethnic minotities were not 'targeted' specifically. Is it fair that no consent was asked or that no financial compensation was made? With our current knowlegde and standards/ethics: No. In those days: They just didn't care.
As has been stated before in the comments: we are linked by our DNA. Race does NOT come in to play.
It is good that the story is told, because it is part of African american history, as well as medical history, as well as history in general. Henrietta's cells continue to contribute to solving this worlds medical problems for everyone. I beleive it is very kind of Mrs. Skloot to donate a large portion of the profits to the Lachs family. She could have ignored them, as Henrietta was ignored all these years.
Yes, I do believe the family should be compensated for what happenend. Nowadays, something like this is no longer possible.
Henrietta's story has been told and we should learn from it. But we should learn as as the HUMAN race, and not the white/black/yellow/red/whatever-color race.

I AM SORRY IF I DONT SEE THIS STORY AS SOME OF THE OTHER VIEWER'S BUT this is a sad story, for people that took an oath to help people,they saw a way to make money on the expense of a famliy that was not educated, nor at that time be seen in the same place as white people, but in those days blacks were not equal, John hopkins hospital owes this famliy apology, And useing her cells 50 Million metric tons, But i am sure the would perfer the real money.

Yes 1: Ms.Skoolt is,and continues to donate much of her profits to the Lacks family.
2) The issue is informed consent. Quite possibly Mrs.Lacks may have gladly donated her entire body to science,but she was not given that option.

3) SO what if her family wants a share. It is not greedy of them to ask for financial compensation in light of the fact that billions of dollars have been made. Perhaps the family might feel differently if the cells had not been bought and sold.Perhaps they might feel differently if all the cures for the diseases were given to people free of charge.

But they weren't! People profited-BIG TIME! Then,when they realized they screwed up,they had the nerve to come back to this family to try to fix it. So to suggest that the poor descendants of this woman are wrong for wanting compensation is simply asinine. If she were a writer,this would be a clear cut case of copyright infringement.

May be I am not understanding very well the story...but excuse me, those cells taken from Henrietta were CANCER cells that actually KILLED her...if I was her child I would never ever take money that were got from selling my mother's murderer cells. Even if I was poor so what? I would try to earn money by myself.
Can anyone tell me please, what would you do if someone picks up your hair from the floor, which you threw away a minute ago and isolates DNA, proteins and uses them...would you make him pay you money??? Excuse me...you threw it! which means you didn't want it....
As for me, I am a molecular biologist too...and if my tissues would be precious for the science purposes in the same or similar way as HeLa cells, I would donate them without thinking twice.

DOES THE FAMILY HAVE ANY FINANCIAL RECOURSE, REGARDING THE USAGE OF THESE CELLS? I HOPE SO. ONCE AGAIN, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY HAS BEEN ROYALLY SCREWED BY BIG BROTHER. HAS ANY OF THESE COMPANIES OFFERED FINANCIAL SETTLEMENTS? CAN THE FAMILY DEMAND THAT THEY STOP USAGE OF THESE CELLS? MS. LACKS WILL BE INCLUDED IN ANY FUTURE BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATIONS THAT I AM INVOLVED IN. HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE HUMAN RACE IS INCALCULABLE AND I WISH THE BEST TO HER REMAINING FAMILY MEMBERS.

I am reading this book now and have been doing some background reading on HeLa cells. I am amazed at what has been accomplished through the use of these cells. I don't understand the attitude of many of the people who have commented on the use of Henrietta's cells. My mother suffered from breast cancer for 20 years and passed away last year. She suffered horribly and underwent many different types of treatments - some of which may have been derived from research from Hela cells. I know my mother would have been thrilled if after her death her cells could have been used to help find a cure for cancer or better treatments for cancer to keep others from going through what she went through. I also know that my mother's (or my father's) primary interest would not be monetary compensation. My mother said several times she would donate her entire body to science if they would have it. I would be so happy if my mother's cells (or mine after death) could be used for medical research to help other people and their families avoid the suffering and pain we endured. I have checked the organ donor option on the back of my driver's license and my fervent hope is something good can come of my death. I can't imagine anything better than an immortal cell line that could lead to possible cure for cancer or heard disease. I am so very thankful to her and her family for all the invaluable research her cells have given medicine over the years. I am positive my mother must have benefited from her cells. We owe Henrietta and her family an undying debt of gratitude for her incredible gift. It is still the most amazing thing any one person has ever done for medical research. THANK YOU.

...I have never heard of Henrietta Lacks "Hela", but it was introduced to me by my dear frined, BGG, I thank her for peeking my interest. I definitly intend to look further into it.

Ms. Skloot I have read your book with great interest and immense enjoyment. "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is our book club's (African-American Women Writers)selected reading and discussion for our January 2011 meeting. Thank you for taking the time to do the in-depth research before putting pen to paper. As a result, you have given us a fine piece of literary work that I believe will live in history along side of the HeLa cells. I have put this book on my "Recommended Reading List' for family and friends.

THANK YOU SKLOOT. your book must be a science in a social setting for those of us who had no chance to drink from the very scientific cup.i have read about HELA CellS on the web. i can't afford to purchase your book due to financial constrains.but all-in-all your contribution is an boost in the right direction. BRAVO.

ngaira mbagaya
nairobi-kenya

The ingredients of the information given in this story, was exceptional. personnally i was consumed with it. will look for the book !

@bcjohnny13: Using proceeds from the book, Rebecca Skloot has set up a foundation to benefit the descendants of Henrietta Lacks (and other families who have been similarly taken advantage of):

henriettalacksfoundation.org

You should consider reading the book before criticizing the author. This short article gives only a snippet of the whole picture.

I received this book as a Christmas gift. What an amazing story! I am grateful that Rebecca Skloot took on this initiative to find out the story and share it all with Henrietta's family.....and us readers.

I know a scholarship has been set up for Henrietta's grandchildren and great-grandchildren through that Foundation. I just wish something could have been set up through John Hopkins to provide health coverage for her immediate family members (husband and children). That seems more fair since they can't receive "royalties" on the HeLa cells distribution.

It was sure an eyeopener what scientists do to make advances in research - - thank goodness more protections are in place!

I wish the very best for Henrietta Lacks' family going forward. They deserve it.

I wish my comments were as noble as the others I've read, but this article seems to miss the whole point. I think it is safe to say the writer is not Black. I have no gripe with science and research. My problem is with White people stealing from the world, particulary people of color. Billions were made and are continuing to be made off of this woman who's family lived in from what can see as third world poverty. To hear people suggest the true indentity and origins of the cells were kept secret to protect privacy and not profits is further insult. And now, someone else is making money off of this family's story. Tell me Rebecca, have you donated any of your book porfits to the Lacks family? I apologize for my tone, but from the building of this country, to music, to sports, I'm tired of watching White people make money off of my people, with little recognition and even less financial compensation. No wonder White guilt was able to elect a token Black president. It seems to be new reasons emerging for it at every turn. I will be very curious to see if Smithsonian is willing to post my comments since I seem to be the only one posting who isn't running out to grab this book and line more non-minority pockets.

I received this book as a Christmas gift from my son...I was so happy to have a copy as I had wanted to read it for some time and just never got around to buying a copy.
This is the best book I have read for decades. I have yet to finish it, and since I usually read a book like this in a day or two, it has been hard to slow myself down...but I have savoured every word...thank you to the Lacks family for allowing this important history to be shared with the world...thank you Rebecca for your patience and persistence and care. Science to me is the place where we ask the big questions and strive and work to find the answers...it is good to be reminded though that HUMAN BEINGS are asking those questions and that the answers should ultimately benefit us all. Albert Einstein once said: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as thought nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." After reading this book, I know which one I would choose.

This was covered as a story on either This American Life or RadioLab from WNYC. A great story.

I first heard about this book and author in my Biotechnology class this year. The author did some book signings at a local cafe in San Francisco. I did not attend however was intrigued by the story, especially in light of scientific developments.

I have since thought:

Why was this African American selected? Were her cells identified as immortal (Stem Cells) back then.

Was cancer stem cells identified during this era (1950's) and only recently given public recognition?

I plan to buy copies of the book for myself and others as a Christmas gift.

The book can be found at Borders.

When I was 21 I worked in a lab for the summer. We worked with HeLa cells harvesting pregnancy hormones produced by those cells. I was told the cells came from Helen Lane. I never thought to wonder it they came from a woman Black like me. I always assumed Helen Lane was real and that she had given her permission.

I am fascinated with this history. I work on biobank and I believe people have the right to know what kinds of researches are being performed with their cells. At my job, in the National Institute of Cancer, that right is respected.

Thank you, Rebecca Skloot, for taking the time to discover the truth behind the cells named HeLa. I was introduced to the HeLa cells in the mid-1970's when my biology prof praised someone name Helen Lawson for her contribution to modern science. The name stuck with me all these years until tonight when I decided to hunt for information on Helen Lawson. Thanks to your perseverence, no more fairy tales will be told. Henrietta Lacks deserves the credit. Her family deserve compensation and that's all she wrote.

As always, people of color are utilized and disregarded. Such as those who were used in the Tuskegee studies and the wonderful Red Tail fighter pilots. When will this country stop lying about how this country became great and tell the truth about the suffering of others for the benefit of a few.

I completed the book last night. WOW. I also met the author when she was a guest speaker at Rochester Institute of Technology two weeks ago. I was more interested in the human aspect of the story, the story of Henrietta's family, her children and grand children.
Legally, the family cannot be compensated to address such medical issues. What happens to the diseased tissues that are removed from your body has never been addressed legally. it was largely assumed that doctors used the blood and tissues to study it and it no longer belongs to the person it was taken from.

The only good outcome in this story is that Debra passed away knowing more about her mother and sister. The other good is that Henrietta's grand-chilldren and great grand-children will have their college tuition paid for through the foundation set up by Rebecca Skloot's earnings from the book sales :) and from US, the community. Imagine her own family cannot afford health insurance!!

What a great piece of Black Herstory... Thank You
We need to make more of our history known.

thats the best bit of history i ever learnt!

I just heard the story on my NPR station. I couldn't get out of the car until it was finished. I'm going to get the book. well done!

This real story was increased my curiosity towards scientific origins.

This Article helped me understand more of the book and the story of Henrietta, so thank you so much for writing it! We currently have to read the book for college and it's possibly one of the most touching and emotional stories I've ever read, because it's true! By reading the book, you develop a relationship with the family and with the author as you read it! I'm not truly interested in medical or scientific information, it's my weak spot in learning, but this book certainly opened my mind to all the different discoveries and advances HeLa, Henrietta, has brought to our lives! Her family, who struggle to make a living, are a strong group of people to have been through such a tragedy in their lives. to lose a mother, a wife, a friend, and a family member is never easy.. and after several years, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" gave them what they needed, the truth behind her life. It told them everything they had wanted to know, from advances, money, all the lives that have been saved, the love that Henrietta had for them, and much more! The story of Henrietta and the discovery of where her cells have been and where they are taking us with the future! The story is a definite must read and i suggest it to all! Teens and adults will fall for this family, feel a connection with them and wish to know more just by reading it, I know i did. Thank you for this article.

Just amazing! Will the family ever reap any benefits?

This was a fascinating book about a courageous woman. I did a school research paper on Henrietta and the disgrace of medical aparteid.

The cells were taken without her consent or knowledge. She could barely read and certainly couldn't understand cell culture. John Hopkins took advantage of her because she was poor, uneducated and a Black woman. Poor Blacks are always taken advantage of, that's why Black people distrust doctors and law enforcement...it's a healthy fear, for sure. Henrietta's family deserve compensation for their mothers, multi-million dollar cell contribution to science and medicine. That's just common sense. Of course, it's racist what John Hopkins and their doctors/scientists were doing to poor Blacks. How is it that this woman's cells made such a MAJOR impact on science and medicine and her immediate family at least has no health insurance. Come on now, it's the right thing to do to insure her family is taken care of. If the doctors, scientists, researchers profited from Henrietta Lacks' cells why shouldn't her family be compensated as well? And now this book has been written and the author will profit. I'm not saying she shouldn't get paid for her book, it's an awesomely informative story and I'm grateful she was compelled to tell it the way it actually happened, but everybody profits except the poor family. Some of you want to look at the family as if they're wrong for wanting to be compensated after all these others have made mega millions of their mother's cell culture. It was an enormous contribution to science and medicine, many people profited, they didn't share their findings for nothing. It's about advancing science and medicine AND getting paid, don't get it twisted!

I just finished reading this book - well written and quite a testimonial to Henrietta and her family. I am a supporter of research but have never really stopped to think about the emotional impact it has on the doner and their family members. How do we determine the rights of a cell? I believe informed consent is crucial - allow researchers to do what they need to do while ensuring that the doner/family wishes are followed.
Thank you Henrietta for your unknowing contribution to science and health research - what an impact you have made -
I am humbled by that! Not sure that any one else in the near future will impact mankind in the way you have.

Excellent!!! I will definitely share this story with my students and my children. I will get two copies of the book and donate one to my school's library and keep the other in my personal library. Thank you for your persevernce and committment. Excellent job! Blessings to the family of the late "GREAT Henrietta." :)

This truely makes one consider donating their body to science upon death.

Fascinating book and well written. I truly believe that if Henrietta Lacks lived long enough to understand the effect she had on the medical world, she would take pride in the thought that her illness was going to result in medical advances that would help all of humanity. It was obvious that her personality was one of compassion and kindness. It is interesting to reflect upon any serious illness you or your family has been affected by and “google” that illness alongside HeLa and see how Henrietta’s cells benefited all of us. As an individual who has tested positive for a mutation to my BRCA 1 gene and a breast cancer survivor, I thank Henrietta Lacks for her contribution to the scientific community. As an individual who was invited to take part in the planning of a website about the Human Genome Project at NIH to be used by the public, I think Henrietta’s contribution to science is something we should all be incredibly thankful for.

Did they find the reason why the cells could multiply indefinitely??Is anyone looking??

I have just finished reading this book. So very well written. I am so pleased to see a book like this emerge from a writer who cared about her subject matter. Congratulations.

the issue of compensation has to two with a few things:

1 - the cells were taken WITHOUT consent

2 - the efforts thereafter to HIDE HER IDENTITY (if what they were doing was totally ethical, why not credit her properly and tell everyone what HeLa truly stood for instead of creating FAKE NAMES?)

3 - in the era which this occurred, unfortunately it was common for African Americans to have things stolen from them without their consent and not receive any kind of credit or compensation

4 - separating the identity of HeLa from her cells did a disservice to the scientific community because i'm sure at first there were many researchers that didn't have a full understanding of what made the cells so special - especially if using them became so commonplace

5 - as was stated above, to produce cells at that rate, there had to have been one powerhouse of a cancer that she had and to use it for research is one thing but what about if/when those cells are used in other people or other living creatures? do they not have the ability over time to adversely affect the dna of others over time? i'm not talking in the short term. i'm aware in the short term they have helped to understand many diseases but it's still something that should be addressed.

Some of the replies here are astounding. Please do some reading on the science behind cell research before jumping to ill-informed conclusions and making ignorant statements.

A few comments...

You leave your cells, and therefore your DNA, everywhere you go. Every time you touch something, sneeze, breathe; every time anything you've touched touches something else is a potential for contamination with your cells. If you've ever had a cut or abrasion, you've left white blood cells and epithelials on the thing that broke your skin, anything on which your blood fell, on the bandages that you used, down the drain you used to wash up. I say this to point out that there is no practical point to being paranoid about your DNA.

Incidentally, you share the vast majority of your DNA with other humans (not to mention all the sequences shared with OTHER SPECIES), so most of your DNA is NOT uniquely "yours" anyway!

Secondly, you do not "get" to profit from your cells. It is illegal in many places to sell human tissue. The value is placed on the results of research; the work, knowledge, expertise, interpretation put into generating those results. In and of itself, a human cell is financially worthless. While it is a sad irony that Henrietta Lacks' family is living in poverty, their situation is not any different from the millions of other people on this planet who do the same. They themselves contributed absolutely nothing to the research done, or the results or advances obtained from that research. Whatever outrage one might feel at their unfortunate circumstances, the idea that they "deserve" anything from the work that others have done is ludicrous.

Were abuses committed by medical professionals and scientists in the past? You bet. At least, by today's standards. But what was "done" to Henrietta Lacks is not even remotely close to "abuse" even by today's standards.

It is my belief that HeLa cells are the very reason that cancers have increased worldwide over the last half century. These cells are not "human" but a hybrid with 58 chromosomes instead of 46. They are as much viral (HPV) material as human. The ability of these cells to propagate themselves is astounding and they have already been intentionally incorporated in so many medical treatments and infiltrated so many cell cultures around the world that we are all potential hosts. DNA tests should be done on ALL cancers today to determine the level of HeLa DNA in cancers around the globe.
The results will shock many people.
Hentrietta is more akin to Typhoid Mary than a saviour.

A very interesting story, Thank you <3

This is a very interesting article and I too will love to read this book. It is educational in that it shows the unknowing contribution of a Black woman to science and the study of cells and how to eliminiate disease. I wish her cancer had been studied at the time and maybe her own cells could have been used to save or sustain her life a little longer. I was born the next year, 1952, and I know no one knew how to treat cancer; just to let a person suffer and die. Thanks for revealing another part of Black history and the contribution that we have made and still make to science. I am going to be nosy and see what other contributions, I already know the majority of them, our cells have impacted on the scientific world.

I read this book twice. I love it and I agree the lack's family should be compensated! From reading about the conditions they live in today, it is a shame that they were not taken care of after one of their own helped the world out in such a tremendous way. Thank you lack's family!!!

for anyone who doesn't believe this is true, George Gey was my great grandfather, my dad worked in the Johns Hopkins labs with him when he was a teenager. I think that this research is world changing, and I am doing a project on him in my AP European History class. I hope that a lot of people spread the book around because it is valid information and it's beneficial to know and be aware of this amazing discovery that has allowed for so much more research to be done, as well as the polio vaccine to be created. Thanks for reading and educating yourself :)

This story is both sad and intriguing.Someone needs to contact Oprah Winfrey to turn this true story into a movie.Henrietta Lacks family needs to be compensated for what has happened to their mother.Her cells were remarkable in that the cells helped save millions of people.And now it is her families turn and time.This is indeed a remarkable story.It keeps you wondering about what will happen next.I would love to read the book.I need to buy it soon.Thank you Rebecca Skloot.If it were not for your curious nature as a 16yr old.I never would have learned about Hela.Congratulations on a book well done.Please continue to write more true stories.I loved the story.Please write more.Maybe they will be compensated.Maybe not.But thanks for sharing this story. :) :)

This was an interesting read. It is funny how one does not hear about such things unless one really digs into it. It is good that they were able to create vaccines etc, but lets be honest what these doctors did was only a little better than what happened at Tuskegee. These researchers should not be pated on the back for what they did it was completely unethical and immoral...But it was a means to an end! Her family should without a doubt reep some of the benifits of what was done.

Her family should at least get some stock in the Big Pharm companies.

hi.... I m a research scholar and working with HeLa cells. Its really great to read something like this,because most of the times we keep on proceeding with the things without knowing the actual fact..thanx a lot to throw light on our knowledge. now i can tell my students the Fact of Non dieing cells.....

Just found out today. Read the original story posted by Janet Singleton. Just wonderful. As a cultural anthropologist,I would have to agree that the political climate allowed this to happen,there is a thin line between the "racial" implications and the general government use of their 'subjects' for unauthorized experimentation.

We do not ascribe to the common thought of race as a separate distinct and discreet genetic corpus. We do not share with the world that we currently only recognize one race. Human. You may read The American Anthropological Association's Statement on Race.Please.

We are aware of the social constructs for political purposes. There are errors in thought and perception on some of the responses but that is to be expected.

The writer, if she continued her studies in genetics would have discovered that the issue of "race" impacts only insofar as the perception. While it is not "real" it is a reality.

From a humanistic perspective her cells have helped many. Please keep in mind that no society,group or clan has ever been exempt at one time or another from man's cruelty to man.

I taught at The Borough of Manhattan Community College,2001-2003.

The Family of the late Henrietta Lacks should be compensated. The Supreme Court needs to see to this.

I just finished the book. It read more like fiction than non-fiction. I'm a 47 year old man and I was blubbering like a baby as I finished the book. I recommend it highly.

Crazy stuff there

I just finished reading the book and strongly recommend it.

I have read the many posts here, to include but not limited to the many books on Henrietta Lacks. This NEW book is nothng but a shame to the real truth. There is nothing new in this book, at all. I personally knew Deborah, and was a researcher who interviewed many of the doctors that this author never knew or interviewed. The point, there is too much of the Henrietta Lacks story and medical history or mystery, that when the next publication comes out, there should be no shock, that serious crimes had been committed. No one is going to jail now, but, the real story shall be told, and you current view of Johns Hopkins shall or may not be different. One can assure you that, what comes next shall have the world on the edge. BELIEVE IT!

This lady's preserved cells have contributed to the onging knowledge search for the betterment of all human beings. How fortunate that testing and research have moved forward, although her family wasn't in the loop. Would that every family had the opportunity to be useful for the human family.

This piece is very interesting. I felt good knowing that yet another african american contributed to the future of the United States' future. Although it wasn't in a very good way, I still liked the fact that my ancestors contributed to a better life for everyone. It's sad that the family only wanted to participate when money was involved but I'm glad they eventually came around.

Posted March 17, 2010 from A Dorin

Thank you for correcting the comment left 3/15/2010 by someone who read the story and still decided to use the word given or donated. The facts are this was an unauthorized taken from Mrs.Lacks, so for anyone that truly believe in their hearts that the family shouldn't profit from progress and success of Mrs.Lacks Cells(DNA).

Well would you denied the family the recognition they so truly deserve also?. I speak for myself and many the family should profit from the cells some how. Someone wrote we don't understand that it took time and money to do this and that but reality is they what ever they put into it they double, triple, quadruplet that profit so they can't complain.

What we are saying it has changed the medical world, and the family deserves to profit and be recognized from the great contribution from there mother.

In regards to the comment left on 3/15/10 by John. Ms Lacks cells were not 'given' by her, they were taken unbeknown to Ms Lacks or her family. - And everyone seems to forget. The 50's as well as before the 50's Blacks, in this country, by law, or lack of- had no civil rights..doh! (is pre MLK). So civil rights - personal rights, compensations, was unheard of especially in the South.(And for sometime after as well). FYI... During those times, and I'm not sure of when this changed over, but for persons doing at kind of work,it was called 'Share cropping'. And when parts of the family had to travel to where the work was, Migrant workers'. That term I believe still is used.

It takes a vast amount of work and resources to grow, store, maintain, ship these cells. And, if you read the book, you will learn that the scientists who originally harvested and grew Henrietta's cells in their lab, did so with little support other than their own ingenuity. Sure, they have been bought and sold many times by many labs and companies at a profit for others. But the real value lies in what they offer scientists, many of whom don't really make that much money considering the value to society that their work generates. I for one will be donating my entire body to science when I die. I don't expect my family to be compensated. If someone down the line figures out a way to use my cells to 1. do good for all mankind, and 2. make a bit of profit, so be it!

Like so many others, I cannot understand why so many people believe the family deserves any compensation. The cells were given for study, and out of that many amazing things happened. The study of medicine was advanced and probably many people benefited. And just because they don't have health insurance doesn't mean the family wasn't treated.
I don't see any correlation between Henrietta's cells and any issues with her family.
The comments almost ruin the beauty of the message

I heard the Author talk a bout her book in NBR radio. And to all those people who are asking if her family got any compensation...The answer is NO...They didn't get a penny..Not only that but they don't even have health insurance.

I've worked with HeLa cells and cells from others that died of the diseases that produced the unique cells. Hers must have been a horrific cancer to produce cells that are nearly unkillable.
I, and other scientists, marvel at the gift of these cells. We remember the people who gave up these cells even when we know little about them.
Most people who give up cells are not compensated. I don't know if this right or not. How can we calculate knowledge? At least the cells help us find treatments that can help others in the future.

This is clearly a case of common sense. Mrs. Lacks cells were taken from her while she was in the hospital without her consent. Right? Because of what the doctor or doctors did has aided the medical in curing and helping others with diseases than Mrs. Lacks survivors should be compensated and it should be done with all deliberate speed.

I am reading the book now and suggest everyone who has preconcieved notions about this being Johns Hopkins preying on African Americans, or anyone else for that matter, read it as well. It is definetly a hard to put down read, so having said that I think I'll get back to it.

Wow unbelievable!!! We as a people have contributed more to this society and the world than folks will ever know like the holy scriptures spoke about in Deut Chp 28. I hope the family was compensated for this to the nth degree and should continue to receive lifetime royalty checks for Henrietta's cells that the medical community will continuing using for the sake of medical achievements now and in the future as a result of taking Mrs. Henrietta Lacks cells without her consent.

For everyone saying why is this about money and it should not be. Can I take something from you without asking just because it is interesting?

"Can the family of H. Lacks file a lawsuit against the scientist? -Posted by C. Frazier"

Who is 'the scientist'? The medical doctor who did everything in his power to save Henrietta Lacks's life? The many doctors whose research was used by Mrs. Lacks doctors to try to save her life?

Or maybe they should sue every medical doctor who may be alive today because of Henrietta Lacks's contribution to medical science.

Should they sue everyone alive today who did not die from polio because of Henrietta Lacks's contribution to medical science?

That was a great article I loved it I think that this kind of science is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3

I'm wondering...did the family receive compensation of any kind?

Interesting story.

I was a nurse & obviously interested in cell research.

So many unanswered questions remain yet.
Poppie

that is so cool!!!!

I'm wondering about the impact this story will have on African Americans who already feel disenfranchised from the American health care system. This issue speaks to the basis of why many Blacks do not have trust for their health care providers, the government, and/or White America in general. It's paternalistic to think that she didn't deserve to be informed that her tissues were being sequestered and it's downright racist to have profited so greatly from her tissue without having at least given her family an opportunity to recognize the contributions her unfortunate physiology made to science. It might have been nice for the family to know that they, too were at risk for having these abnormal cells and dying prematurely from cancer. First, "do no harm," right? Had it not been for the modern researchers interest in her family's DNA (probably for further exploitation purposes), they may have NEVER known about their grand/mother's contributions. This story makes me shudder to think of all that we don't know that's happening behind the scenes in research.

I am appalled and saddened at the 'reverse racism' in these comments. No one owes her or her family anything. All tissue removed today is required to be sent off to labs for testing and they can do whatever they want with it. At that time, no permission would have been necessary. I am so tired of people wanting to go back in time and apply today's standards to yesterday's actions. This family was in no way harmed by this scientific research. Third graders today have a better grasp than most of the commenters here that the cells used (sold) today are not the same, identical cells taken from this woman. The article clearly states they have been grown, cloned, etc., in labs for decades of scientists to continue more and better research against diseases. The 'profit' made by selling these generated cells helps fund the cost of more and different research, including production of more cells to use in experiments. Scientists and research companies are not zillionaires. If the commenters here bothered to know their history, they would know there are thousands of stories like this, where people contributed to science with out compensation or necessarily knowledge of their individual input. It is certainly not a color issue anymore than it is a gender issue.

Excellent Story! What a beautiful woman! Her name should live on forever; even though she did not give permission. Her Family should receive some type of award. Thank You Henrietta! for the life you have given to so so many.

I feel very bad for her family cause they should get a piece fo the cake, anyway it`s a wild world and only the strongest survive.My admiration goes out to the writer for unfolding such a treasure, well done.......

This is a very sad story, for racism still remains center front in our society today. Had Mrs. Lack's pigmentation been of the dominant race, there would be no discussion because she and her family would have received recognition and monetary compensation they so rightly deserved.

John Hopkins is known for exploiting African Americans. He La cells put John Hopkins on the map to academic excellency,ranking them number one in research and technology. I am sure that He la cells generated billions of dollars over the decades. And now Ms. Skloot will also receive millions for the sell of her book. Although Ms. Skloot has set up a foundation for the Lacks family (so she says), she [Skloot] will remain in control of that Foundation. If she really wanted to help the Lacks, she would have used some of the proceeds from the sell of her book to help the Lacks family. What is 5 cents per book? Like John Hopkins is Ms. Skloot exploiting the Lacks family?

The only way I see it going down is to file a suit for emotional distress. Finding out something of this magnitude about your own Mother would be life-changing and could be very upsetting/confusing especially for someone religious who believes their Mother is 'living on'. For that alone, some compensation should be given but who determines the amount? It's like trying to figure out what to pay Native Americans for money lost for their lands held in Trust. It's impossible, but something is better than nothing. What would make me more upset is that my Mother changed the world and yet her name was never spoken. That's the true crime. Give the woman her due

Immortality.
Ethics.
Humanity and its inherent drama.

This story touches on all these themes and if you are looking for a good read, this should top your list.

You'll be thinking about it, and talking about it, as I have been, for months to come.

Her family had every right to money made from the sale of their family member's cells.

I stopped reading the comments because this went from being about Henrietta's cells to a black and white issue. It seems to me that her name wasn't revealed due to the lack of permission to take her cells and greed over the money being made from her cells. White people are the only ones ever pointed out to be racist. And pardon my childish statement, but it takes one to know one. A non-racist doesn't see the racism. There was something truly special about Henrietta and I see her as a remarkable woman that unfortunately without her permission, touched many lives. I see her much more than just a black woman.

The story of Henrietta Lacks is one of an American science establishment which failed to live up to the Nuremberg Code we so famously set up for the rest of the world (and the Helsinki Declarations which built upon it). Henrietta Lacks and her family should have been granted informed consent to the research which proceeded on her cervical cancer tumor cells.

However, shelves in tumor registries all over the world groan with similar samples from millions of cancer patients (including mine - I have a rare sort of cancer which grows on nerve tissue). Neither I nor any of these other cancer patients were given an opportunity to control the disposition of our excised tumors. I feel badly that the Lacks family has this sense of having been treated badly but they have not been singled out (apart from their relative's undeniable heritage in those unperishable cells).

That so sad

This sounds like a fascinating book. Ethical treatment of research subjects is a hot topic for anyone involved in research. I plan to read it.

Mrs. Lacks was not a victim of racial discrimination, but of the "doctor knows best" mentality common sixty years ago. Many patients at that clinic had cells taken to that lab; Mrs. Lacks' cells just happened to be unusual. That said, there is a shameful history of discrimination and abuse in research. Tuskeegee is one example. Nazi torture in the name of science prompted a sweeping international change in standards for research in human beings.

Most researchers truly do want to do the right thing. The problem sometimes lies in the shifting nature of what we see as "right."

Two very sad take home messages. A 30-year-old gets cervical cancer and dies young. The tissues was taken without her permission. Now that the story is known some compensation should be made for the latter. If this was all happening today someone would be making $.

The real irony is that since some in the family can't afford health care, they can't benefit from the scientific advances that came from their mother's cells.

this lady was a life saver. she should never be forgotten.

Scientists wanted to study cancer cells, but they died too quickly. In Henrietta Lack's case, the cells not only lived, they thrived and replicated faster than any the scientists had ever seen. They were able to share the cells over and over again in many countries, and because they continue to replicate, the ones in existence now are more or less clones of the originals. As for the person who feels her family should not benefit, why not? The entire world is benefitting from it; and if you want to make believe some big pharma hasn't profited because of it, then you live in an alternate reality. They should be compensated, and compensated well; their relative, whether unwittingly or not, did and continues to provide valuable information toward various cancer research projects.

what happened to the cells in space?

This is a fascinating story about life and what God blesses mankind to discover. Unfortunately it sometimes boils down to a racial issue because people make it so. The bible tells us that God made everything and everyone so what we gain is from Him. Lives have been saved or prolonged and the research continues based on what this woman gave by an unknown donation. That the fact that it has been revealed should allow the family at least some compensation even if it is just her name being revealed and getting credit in the annals of Black History. Also to the idiot, who used the term "jungle bunny" I hope and pray that you or your family never have the need to benefit from the "HeLa" cells, and if you do, you need to fall down on your knees and thank God and Henrietta Lacks, a Black Woman for being a part of saving the live or lives of that person.

I bought the book three days ago and am nearly done! It's fabulous!! Everyone who reads this story and is intrigued with the family and story, please note that Rebecca has set up a foundation to provide money for the education of Henrietta's family: henriettalacksfoundation.org (what an appropriate name!) Please contribute.

If you enjoyed the article, then read the book. I bought it yesterday and I am more than half way through it! In the 24 hours since hearing about the story on NPR and starting to read it, I have recommended it to at least three people.

This was a very nice and well constructed piece. Nice job!

I am extremely proud of the contribution Mrs. leaks has made to the world even if it was made without her permission. She has truly had the last laugh on the world of medicine that truly did not see her as a human being. A contribution that has help people of all race's, creeds and colors.

As a black woman I am extremely grateful for having learned this story. I believe this story should be brought to the attention of the masses so that people of all races are aware of the great contribution and legacy Mrs. Lacks has brought tothe world.

Read this article last week and had to order the book that same night from Amazon. Got it Tuesday and it is EXCELLENT! I've got a couple books going right now, but it will definitely be done by Friday.

In response to the comment from diana c. posted Feb. 1,2010.

The photo of a well dressed Henrietta Lacks is of a happy healthy woman. Regardless of her econmic status, based on what she's waring in the photo. I respectfully wanted to mention what seemed the most obvious answer as to where the family's finances may have gone.

Let us not forget, that Henrietta was being treated for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins, when she died less than a year later. I'm sure treatment for cancer was as expensive in the 50's as it is today. I wouldn't be surprised if the family were left financially ruined after she passed away because it's still happening today.

The advances in modern medicine made because of Henrietta Lacks leaves me speechless, but also concerned. That in our ambition to achieve these great medical break throughs we fail to treat people like human beings.

Some of these comments are ridiculous!!! Why should her family receive money? If it was a wealthy white person, no one would say they deserve to be compensated for helping others. I am a biologist and scientist work off grants from institutions and the government. And for the person who said everything living must die so the cells only outlived her; the cells do die, but tumor cells are able to reproduce themselves. The cells are dying but new ones are constantly arising. As long as the cells are kept on the right agar, the cells will live on. In current cells, HeLa cells are not all the same as many have undergone mutations. So HeLa cells found in one lab may differ in the genetics from HeLa cells found in another lab unless they both had been frozen without cell division occurring to allow for mutations.

I bought and read the book. What a fabulous story. I have to say that I do think it was terribly wrong for the Lacks family not to compensated in some way. I hope your book may bring them some of the recognition they deserve. It seems to me that the only thing that hasn't been done to this family is for the major labs to sue the Lacks family for the wild-overgrowth of HeLa cells in their labs. But I'm sure that it is just a matter of time. Hyperbolic perhaps, but with the number of wrongs done to this family, I wouldn't be surprised. Thank you for shedding light on an amazing story and making us all aware that any one of us could find ourselves used in such a way.

very interesting i'm going to buy this book fo sho

very interesting. you know, i knew that about cell research, but not about this person in particular. thank you for sharing.

Thank you, we need stories like this, a human contribution. What a blessing to have had a human named Henrietta Lacks.

Wow. Great Article. Very Intresting. Decided to use it as the basis for my midterm paper.

This is a great story. Henrietta Lacks was a poor tobacco farmer, whom cells was stolen from her cancerous body. This is on time for Black History Month. Amazing, her cells never died, and billions of dollars was made from her cells. Henrietta family should get compensated. Where is the family? Is rebecca skloot giving back to the family, for the information they gave her on Henrietta and about her family. Where is her daugther(Deborah) and her sons? Alot left out. I want to buy the book, but don't want to be mislead.

I believe that when God created man in the begining He Created us to live forever. But sin brought death to the body(flesh) that was never part of God's original purpose.

I can imagine this book becoming a movie, starring Lynn Whitfield or a younger actress look-a-like. We need more information from HL's relatives who grew up knowing her before her passing. Perhaps through this form of media her family can be compensated.

This is a great story. God has made all of us to contribute something to the world and make it better place to live whether, it's designing a car or being a craftsman of furniture, scientist/ biologist, teacher. Sometimes we are not compensated for our contibutions but GOD has the final say in everything. Thank you . May God bless you and guide you with the information to put into this book.

Very interesting and informative. Much as I'm thinking of just the wrong way the testing etc was done, I'm staying positive and thanking Mrs. Lacks and her descendants/relatives for that contribution to medicine.

My daughter passed away at the age of 37 after suffering all her liefe from a rare heart condition which the doctors had told us she would not survive for more than a few months. Many different medical students and quite a few doctors got a peek at her over the years and probably learned a lot from her. After she passed away I offered to the medical institution where she had received most of her care the opportunity for an autopsy which was gratefully accepted. Did they keep any of her tissues? I don't know and I don't care. If they did then I hope they learned something from that too. My daughter would have wished that. Did I ever consider wanting to be compensated for that? Did my daughter ever think she should be compensated for being a study subject, a "guinea pig" as she put it so inelegantly? For a few years she refused to be a study subject as she had gotten tired of repeating herself to ever new people. But after a while she decided that to deprive scientists of her rather unique condition and the knowledge that could be derived from it was selfish and did not help anyone, least of all herself. It was one of the visiting physicians who suggested that she might have an additional rare condition and although the other doctors considered the possibility to be very remote it turned out to be true.
My daughter thought that as she could not hold a job or otherwise be what is called a "contributing member of society", if science could learn something from her, if only one other person could be helped from whatever the doctors could learn from her, then her life was worth something. The Lack family should consider that.

I just know that I am blessed to have had the chance to read about this story. I cant wait to get the book and learn more about Mrs. Lacks life. Also I understand about the *ownership* of the tissue BUT.. I also think that by this story coming into the light by a BOOK that the family should be given at least something. As for the person(s) saying who's fault is it that they lived in poverty... MAYBE before saying that they should have taken the silver spoon out of thier mouth and walked a mile in her or her family's shoes ( if they could aford them that is )And last of all we should all be gratefull that we have had a polio shot and quit pointing the finger at Black-White-Red-Yellow or Green.

If researchers and big Pharma agreed to treat people at a reasonable cost and with greater philanthropy the Lacks family might not be so focused on compensation. Instead the multi-billion dollar industry has not reached out or shown any compassion in providing care after profiting off this unfortunate womans tissue. Informed consent only and always!

I REALLY don't get it, what did her cells do to help us?

I am absolutely fascinated by this story. I will buy the book. Have family members in the medical field and they will appreciate knowing about Mrs.Henrietta..
Yes, a movie should be made about her life.
Lets encourage such a project. Yes, I would like to know if her family received any compensation... Really amazing!!

I was fascinated when I came upon a brief mention of this story online and related it to a few coworkers that night. Almost immediately, one of my friends said, "We have a story kinda like that in my family, too; it was written up in Jet magazine back in the 70's!" Well, I told more, she told more, and somewhere along the way, we found we were talking about the same woman! Henrietta Lacks was my friend's aunt! And, no, the family was never compensated, but I imagine that's fairly standard as far as medical research goes.
Amazon is going to get a HUGE order for the book from my workplace!

very interesting. but how can her cells be immortal? One part of the cell thory clearly states that all cells come from cells that have alredy been born. in other words all cells die but new cells are born. plus if she had immortal cells she would have to be immortal.

This is totally incredible!

Interesting article but limited journalism. Ms. Lacks was not a Virginia tobacco farmer - she lived with her husband in Baltimore area to which they'd migrated eight years from Virginia years before for work opportnities eight years before her interaction with Johns Jopkins that gave origin to HeLa cells. They lived in the Turner Station, an African american enclave in the city, that's noww a section of Dundalk a middle class area now ironically 90% white.

It is wonderful how the FATHER above takes care of us. Because poilio could've killed most of us and some of us wouldn't be born. GLORY to GOD. Those scientist did exactly what they were suppose to do. Out of every mess there is a miracle from above.

What an amazing article. I have ordered the book and can't wait to read it. What an outstanding book selection for Black History Month.
As an African American who had an interest in science in school, but didn't pursue it in college I wish I had been introduced to Henrietta Lacks and her hardy cells.A Black woman with miraculous cells-WoW! I now know I want to know more about cell cultures.

First: Immortal cells are not always cancerous; at the time, there was no way to generate an immortal cell line, so the HeLa cells were a huge step forward.

Now we can generally create immortal yet non-cancerous cell lines by creating hybridomas, among other methods.

Second: Cancer is not contagious. If these HeLa cells become airborne, they'll die eventually or be destroyed by your immune system (either active or innate). The larger issue is that they'll grow in just about any laboratory tissue conditions, so if you work with HeLa cells, you must be extremely careful not to cross-contaminate your other cell lines.

Third: While it is unfortunate that the Lacks family suffered this injustice, in the grand scheme of things it is relatively minor, especially considering that what the doctor in question did was (in the standards of the day) neither morally or legally questionable. The removal of the tumor would have occurred regardless of whether or not it was shared, so this action incurred no pain, hardship or expense on Henrietta -- therefore, the idea that her family should be somehow compensated is laughable. It should be enough to know that her contribution has indeed furthered biological sciences and medicine by an untold amount.

Very interesting topic. I will be buying the book.

too bad this article is plagued with the writers own commentary, because her story is sad

This is very interesting; however it is very disturbing. It should be about human preservation and healing and the power of human life, but all I can see through this is this family being used and a legacy abused. How can you not see the color issue when you view the back story!?! Come on... You have poor uneducated black folk tissue being utilized and making money saving lives of the rich and the "white." This is disturbing and exciting all at the same time.

Read people! There is more to this story!

The family did get paid, with the polio vaccine ! Asking for money is goofy , just greedy. "lived in povety" .. who's fault is that?

The story of Mrs. Lacks was eloquently and poignantly told in Mrs. Harriet Washington's (should be) seminal book, Medical Apartheid, published in 2006. There is a long history of the use of African-Anericans as medical guinea pigs, regardless of the spin given to Mrs. Lacks' "contribution". If you want to read about Mrs. Lacks (who at some point resided in Turner Station in Baltimore, Maryland) in a larger context, read Ms. Washington's book. There are several articles about her that predate the 1990's: "The cells that would not die", The Baltimore Sun, March 1981." The immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks", Reader's Digest, September 1986. Another article, "Her cells made her immortal", The Baltimore Sun, March 1997, and a more recent article(not cited)written in 2005, also express the sentiments of her family.
The story of Mrs. Lacks had been told before Ms. Skloot's decision to write it in such a way that opened the family to criticism about greed. If doctors can have hospitals and wards named after them, if they can prosper from their innovations, why complain about compensation for Mrs. Lacks' family? And, for the people who are fond of accusing African-Americans of using the race card; remember, it was the card that they were dealt.

Wow! This is an amazing story! Thanks for sharing it!
Jaycee

It is my understanding that when a surgery or biopsy is done the tissue or body parts removed become the property of the hospital or facility where the procedure was done. I believe that it has been like this "forever". I remember hearing a discussion about this on the radio maybe twenty years ago where people called in and put forth their views on this issue, which can be very controversial. I once signed pre-surgery paperwork, and there was a section which stated that any removed tissue becomes the property of the hospital. If the tissue is in fact the property of the hospital, then they can do whatever they want with it. If people feel that this is not right and that "donors" should be compensated, it would probably take the enactment of new laws to accomplish this. I don't know how I feel about this particular family not being compensated, because I think this has happened thousands of times to other families and they just did not realize it. How do you judge who to compensate and to what degree? Is tissue that does not turn out to be helpful to research become less valuable for that reason, or is all such tissue equally valuable because it all came from a human being?

"This really shows "IGNORANCE". This person doesn't realize that the cell was "taken" from her body without her knowledge or consent. It NOT the same as you throw it in the "trash". I guess i could go further and say the the word"trash" is aimed at the "poor black" woman. This book will make some money and the hospital has already made and will continue to make money on this. The natural thing to do is apologize , compensate, and thank the family for the contributions made from the cells of Ms.Lack. Also, the family may have the same cells in their bodies, and if they agree to be tested to find more cells like Ms.Lack and help with the betterment of mankind.

Posted by Dayne in Japan on February 1,2010 | 08:11 PM"

Of course they were taken with her body with her knowledge, how exactly do you think they got them? The cells were part of a tumor, removed during a biopsy. Same thing that's done today when you have a tumor. And after they're analyzed, they are thrown in the trash, because they are *medical waste*. The only thing she didn't have knowledge of was what happened to the cells after they were removed, when they were no longer her property.

And if anyone else in her family has "these same cells" in their bodies, it means they have a very aggressive form of cancer. So yeah, not likely.

it is a very interesting story and I would like to know about her life. when did she die? did she die from the cervical cancer? the fifties was a very different time and era and things like this happened all the time. it didn't matter what color people were, it happened in the name of science. young people don't remember the times but it was a very different world. I have heard alot of stories that happened in the 40's & 50's and some people were hurt by these experiments, more then people will ever know. she was not hurt by this. whether they should get money from this is for the courts to decide. still would like to know of her life as the person she was. there weren't a lot of cures then for cervical cancer and sad that it took her life.

There's so much ignorance here, it makes my head hurt. First of all, research scientists don't sell anything, they just do research. Typically they share resources like cells with each other for free- we get aliquots of cell lines from other labs all the time, for example. The companies that sell them are the ones that culture or "make" the cells. Second, doctors clearly had permission to remove the tumor, as that was part of her treatment. It's not like they strapped her down and stole her cervix. And third, once something is removed from your body and declared medical waste, like a tumor or a cyst or an infected appendix, it no longer belongs to you. It's like how police can go through your trash because you relinquish possession of things when you throw them out. Demanding compensation because your grandmother's discarded tumor ended up being useful to a researcher is ridiculous- she didn't own it, even if she did, those cells weren't worth anything to the family, and would never have been anything to anybody if it weren't for the work of scientists.

Wait a minute, what you think the medical information disclosure procedure is about?

Beyond authorizing the medical personels to proceed with the information on one's behalf, such a leverage does not prevent them from doing evil to us... Medical practice is not only a scientific practice, it entails some morality, a lot of ethics unfortunately most scientists are not equipped with...

Unchecked things of this nature undermine the trust that should engulf us when entering a medical facility... as a patient, do not put yourself in a position of weakness enough not to exercise your right to know about information pertaining to your health status and anything taken off You as part of the medical procedure... Ask and follow up on such lab works... have witnesses about what is being done under you...

You may not know the practices but malpractices and associated evil conducts are foreseeable... Use your wits!!!

I do believe that anything taken out of context for the purpose of material exploitation will never end up accordingly with one's evil plans... nature has a Unique way of claiming back what belongs to IT... timelessly so far!

Demba.

As a scientist who has worked with HeLa cells for years I find a lot of this article to be pure fluff and at times rather inaccurate. HeLa cells don't "float" on dust particles. Never. Mixing up and mislabeling vials of cells was the cause of the confusion about certain lines.

Secondly, it cost money to grow cells and $25 a vial is probably less than the dollars spent to make the stock. No one is getting rich from selling HeLa cells for god sake.

Third, in 1950 tissue sample were taken from anyone, black or white, because the idea of informed consent hadn't evolved. It is unfortunate but no one who donates cells today will profit financially if their cells become the next HeLa line. And there are hundreds of immortalized human cell lines today.

Finally, I was saddened to read the level of scientific ignorance that dozens of these comments reveal. Everyone in our society to has a responsibility to get a handle on these issues so we can pass reasonable laws/regulations and not be driven into a panic by demagoguery.

I will be reading the story of Henrietta. I am a Research Scientist and as a Microbiology and Molecular Biology Grad student my research revolved around the use of "HeLa" cells. Please know that we were taught and well aware of the background/derivation of these cells to which we owe so much advancement in the field of Biomedicine.

wow rich people took advantage of poor people... how shocking!
Bet that has not happend to anyone else.(SATIRE)

As for vaccinations and cancer treatments helping man kind, depends on which side receives the checks!

1. Cancer is now the leading cause of death in the US
2. Heart disease
3. DOCTORS & Hospitals rank third
Keep your 'magic medicine'!!!

For those of you who think Henrietta Lack's family should not be compensated because the HeLa cells were used for the good of science, then perhaps the scientists should stop selling the vials of the HeLa cells for $25 since it's "for the good of science". Fair enough?

So MANY comments both positive and negative. I am the grandson of the scientist that RECEIVED the tissue from Henrietta, George Gey. My grandparents were pioneers in cancer reasearch. The fact that they were able to grow the cells and that so many advancements to cancer research were done as a result of HeLa is the focus. Remember when this ocurred it was a long time ago. Some of you paint this as researchers making big bucks. That was not it at all. My grandfather carried the cells all over the world in tubes, in a modified fly fishing case (he loved fishing) next to his body in his upper suit pocket to keep them warm. He GAVE the cells to any research lab interested in cancer research. There were no patents, no copyrights. Just amazing doctors helping each other in cancer research. It was never about money. Read the book, it's accurate and has much more information.

I do not think the family deserves compensation simply because a lot of money was made from this, or because they were poor. Those aren't good reasons. It would be NICE if they could be GIVEN some of the money, but they didn't do anything to earn it. The scientists and researchers did all the work. Also, the cells could have been taken from anyone, but they happened to come from this particular donor. People please remember this was done in the 50's before there were any laws or even ideas about privacy like we have today. What the doctor did was standard practice and was not "immoral" in that era. It's wonderful that the cells were able to help the field of tissue culture, but I wish the identity of the origin of the cells was not used to create a racial and financial battle.

She was not "a poor black tobbaco farmer"; she was a poor black tobacco farmer's wife. PC nonsense.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400052173?ie=UTF8&tag=b0fd5-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400052173

what is more fascinating is the fact that Hela cell has helped advance human knowledge.

This story is fascinating in that it speaks to the beauty and simplicity of life. It is unnerving in that it harkens to a "Tuskegee Syphilis" experiment in the north east. To make an assumption that this was not done with any racial implications is unknown. However I would presume that race did play a role in the decision to not inform the family and the patient of this "miraculous and immortal" cell when one found that there was an opportunity for profit. There is a bit of unethical actions lurking here. I do hope that the family receives adequate compensation.

I can appreciate the book. It is indeed an expose'. However, given the history of this country as it relates to stealing, inflicting genocide, and other devious acts, how does the purchase of the book help the family? This is not an attempt to discredit the author;however, how many more Black people have to be exploited? Her family should receive at least one billion dollars. After all look at how many unknown physicians have cashed in on this.

Interesting article. I do not understand why everyone thinks this family deserves money. Enlighten me.

While many people or corporations may have made money on these cells after the fact, and I do believe the family should receive some compensation, no one who freely donates tissues or organs is ever compensated.So if HeLa had agreed to donate the family would not have been compensated. Since the cells were harvested illegally, the family surely deserves compensation from the Doctor and whatever entity he worked for. After that however, no one is really legally liable for using her cells.

wow, this is so fascinating

The Family never got any money from this. When I came across this story, I e-mailed my cousin, her husband is a close relative of Helen Lacks. Her contribution to the world is just amazing. It's just sad that this was done without her and her family's knowledge, or consent. I realize it was in the name of science, but there is a limit to when it is in the name of science and when it becomes a personal violation. To harvest someone's cells without consent and use it to make a profit is a totally unethical. The family should be compensated for the contribution Mrs. Lacks made to the world. When we look at the larger picture, Mrs. Lacks' contribution has saved thousands and thousands of lives around the world, and continues to do so. It would be fitting that her family get some type of compensation and She be given global recognition for her life saving contribution.

this is a beautiful story for black history, lack to learn more.

Wow! That is really sweet! i hope i get an A+ on my0 report of this article!

henrietta was an amazing african american woman who was never known .most black people dont get credit for what the did instead caucasains do

THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT ARTICLE! I'm normally not so in to science, but this makes me want to learn more!!! Barnes & Noble, here I come!

Totally amazing! this makes me so interested since i'm interested in going into the bio-med feild. AH! totally awesome! I'd love for this lady to speakkk at my school or something!

Quite an interesting story

Interesting. So, was any link to cancer picked up in Henretta lacks kids???

Wow, very interesting indeed. I have never heard of such a thing and i am very intrigued on such a great find. what shocks me the most though was that these samples were taken over 60 years ago. i was just wandering if that was the only specimen found. If not how could we incorprot this to make humans immortal. Very very interesting indeed though.

Why is that this did not make it to national/International news. We have rights to intellectual property but not to cells? Entire world has benefitted but nothing to her family?

‎[1] Ms. Zielinski is clearly deceptive when she states near the very end of the article that ‎the Henrietta Lack Lack story "has often been held up as an example of a racist white ‎scientist doing something malicious to a black woman. But that's not accurate." I read ‎about Henrietta Lacks years ago, as a student at well-known historically black college in ‎the 1990's. A limited history of Henrietta Lack’s has been likely been floating in social ‎literature since probably the 1970's. Most of the literature I read on Henrietta was ‎considered "afrocentric" and probably dismissed in the “culture wars” during my college ‎years. ‎

‎[2] I understand the danger of "litigating the past," but it necessary in this case to ‎underscore in no uncertain terms THE RACISM OF THE 1950'S FACILITATED THE ‎ACTIONS OF WHITE PHYSICIANS TO HARVEST MS. LACK CELLS. If readers ‎are not convinced of this, I would implore you to study literature on The Tuskegee ‎Syphilis Experiments. The revelation of a nearly thirty-year experiment in which white ‎scientists lied to poor Black Americans in the south in order to inject them with active ‎syphilis strand, study the rate of deterioration of their vital function, while refusing them ‎well-known penicillin until they died, was acknowledged in some press reports in 1970s. ‎

‎[3] I believe the Tuskegee Experiment led to the discovery of the truth about Henrietta ‎Lacks in social literature and investigative reporting. In 1990's, President Clinton ‎acknowledged the racism involved in experiment and, I believe, gave some monetary ‎settlement to the surviving children of those who perished. In comparison, we have very ‎detailed literature on "medical experiments" on Jews in Nazi death camps (less on similar ‎German practices in Southwest Africa). We have no qualms calling Nazi actions of the ‎‎1940’s racist. White scientists harvesting cells and conducting death experiments on ‎blacks are "subtle and complicated." Not only is the Lack’s story an example of medical ‎racism, the author now intends to profits from their tragedy to sell books. I agree its a ‎story that must be told, but SHAME ON MS. ZIELINSKI’s insensitivity to the clearly ‎broader, racist implications within U.S. medical history. ‎

I was very move by the story. This would be worth getting the book to finish. As far as the family wanting compensation NO! This lady was admitted to a hospital and in doing so, she unknowingly gave doctor permission to try to help her find a cure. In the effort of trying, cells had to be removed and tested. So in respect to the family, their mother had given her permission to take her cells. After there removal, there the property of the lab. I think their mother would have been proud of her donation to the world. If anything help her husband gain an understanding of what happened, and how she benifited the world. The part of the family that thinks they should receive money,is just out for themselves and money hungry. Compensation should go to the donor if any, just as being done, by allowing her memory, name, or donation be told to the world. In this way she'll live forever.

This article is so timely, given the work I'm doing in community-based participatory public health research. It literally puts a human face on the importance of being transparent and ensuring maxiumu safety and human regard for all involved in bio-medical and social research.

I am 46 years old and have never been so interested in science in all my life. Captivating story.My daughter who's a biology Major Tells my why she was captive by this story too. Paula

For those that are interested, No the Lacks family never received one red cent nor any recognition. I would have been happy if they would have put a trust fund up for any Lacks descendants to go to college. And for the person who said we are not entitled because people who donate their bodies to science don't expect compensation well there is a difference when one donates and when it is taken without permission. They have taken it upon themselves to not only steal but sell it around the world, so why shouldn't we make money too.....it's our genes!!

You can't ignore the racist aspect of this story. Billions were made and are still being made. Her family should have been (and should now be) compensated.

I'm definately going to pick up this book. I always knew that deep down in my sole that Black people made greater contributions to society than those barely mentioned. The fact that scientist tried to cover it up confirms that there is a God and He declares that what's done in the dark, God will bring to light. Also the fact that the Lack family lived in poverty while people got rich from using Hanriaetta's cells is absolutely implausible.

Amazing how when something like this is reported all the LOW LIFES instantly start yelling " lets SUE someone "

If you go to a barber and have your hair cut, and a strand of hair falls behind a counter, can you SUE the barber for keeping some of your "cells" ?

Blood cell samples, tissue samples, etc are taken all the time and when you go to a doctor or hospital, these 'tests' are done routinely. I have never heard of ANYONE wanting these 'samples' back.

I understand that everyone would like Henrietta's family to be compensated. But, by whom? It's not like Big Greedy Medical Company is smoking a cigar, sitting on piles of cash, and handing out vials of HeLa cells in exchange for big checks. The original people that did the cell culture from Henrietta's tumor probably didn't get anything, either. Most of the research that is done on HeLa cells is performed by hospitals and academic labs. These are funded by research grants, most of which comes from taxpayer money.
A "billion dollar industry" refers to the sum total of the research grants, most of which pay scientists (who don't make much, believe me). The cells themselves are largely obtained for free, passed from one lab to another.
So, who will be writing these fat checks to Henrietta's family? Sorry for the bad news, but it just doesn't work that way.

I'm glad in many ways for the experience of this All reaching me here, and the awareness of how I/Us/All Humans are benifitting in one way or another, from one another... whether we realize it or not. To me it isn't just "that" or "this" which does/doesnt matter. Its "what" its all about that moves me: WE :)What WE ALL gain to learn in understanding Life as a whole, by expanding our minds/stretching our capacity to accept potential, to see outside our particular "box of sets," setting aside our "due" prIde(s), WE do open our hearts: for the simple purpose of knowing HOW to CARE, i.e. be aware of/in/to/from/for & towards the Life/cause & purpose... called Life Itself. 2 "juice" the TRUTH/"re~feelize" our Reason Being. 2 set free Life. Releasing from ourselves resentment cuz it bonds us against Life. Isn't Life really to PAY attention 2 Life? To me, that means responding 2 Life with Life, taking responsibility for~giving~that~which~gives~Life... Whether it be a chance, a hand, a consideration, a sense of security, hope(for human scientists of all varieties/for human humans of similarly authentic human stuff & cause for living as You & I,) w/overlapping layers of similarity occurring naturally w/ diversity: physically, conversationally, spiritually, within varying studies, families of family, macro an microcosmically. I Believe that Love packed into the stream of Life, wherever it comes from, however it comes, can be recognized, acknowledged, realized & expressed; creating WHAT consitutes The True Immortal Life that in some way, shape, or form, tangible and/or intangible, cellularlly, emotionally, scientificlly, elementally, Personally, Divinely, & other~WISE, IS Spiritual Evolution. I am just thankfull for it All, and that I Live in a time, place & state of being in which I have the opportunity to experience the contrast within this One thing and be able to choose to offer/express & share Peace, bottom line:) luv~N~light(Good Vibes+Wide Palate=Productive World)

The cells were propagated by George Otto Gey without Lacks' knowledge or permission (neither she nor her family gave permission)and later commercialized, although never patented in their original form. Then, as now, there was no requirement to inform a patient, or their relatives, about such matters because discarded material, or material obtained during surgery, diagnosis or therapy, was the property of the physician and/or medical institution. This issue and Mrs. Lacks' situation was brought up in the Supreme Court of California case of Moore v. Regents of the University of California. The court ruled that a person's discarded tissue and cells are not their property and can be commercialized.

This article and the profound impact it implies made me want to buy the book (which I have ordered from Amazon). I have never heard of such cells and I have taken a few biology classes too!

Thanks to Rebecca Skloot & Smithsonian.com for maikng this story available.

Excellent article...I do think the family should be compensated, though. Those cells have become invaluable. The amount of good that has come from them is priceless. The fact that the doctor took the sample "without telling her" is deceitful and blatant wrongdoing. There should be consequences. I'm sure the doctor is deceased now, so payment to her decendents is the only right thing to do.

This was a great read and will definitely be picking this book up. I have worked with HeLa cells for a long time now and only heard half-truths and rumors about the origin of the cell line. In fact I have some growing right now! It will be great to finally read about the history of probably one of THE most widely used cell lines. Some clarity for those that don't understand what immortality is. In cells, as they get older/divide their telomeres (chromosome protection) become shorter and DNA damage accumulates. When this happens the cell has mechanisms to tell itself to die (apoptosis). In cancer cells and transformed cells these mechanisms don't work properly or are lacking. This makes it so that the cell cannot tell itself to die and becoming essentially immortal. Don't get single cell immortality and multi-cell (humans) organism immorality confused!

Makes me want to read more. Now I'm hooked.

Simply wonderful

This story is for the benefit of all human been, and it's a story of one of us, as humanity; let’s go ahead and find something to help humanity to fight against Cancer and other evil diseases...

Fascinating stuff! Must read book and sounds like a great storyline for a movie. I will reserve judgement about any illegalities and/or unethical conduct by the doctor who originally took custody of Ms Lacks cells after I read the book. I think Ms Lacks' heirs would do well to consult a reputable lawyer to protect their interests here. Some good lawyers might represent them for free, given that any potential litigation would be high profile and get national,possibly global,media coverage.

Ironically,"Blacks" have contributed/scarificed so much to make USA the "Land of the Free and Brave" yet on the other hand, Blacks are not free to enjoy THEIR FREE country. Blacks are still judged by the color of their skin and not the contribution they have made ..... from the "Farms to the Institutions." Thank you Henrietta continue to soar with the Eagles and your name (Family Name) will be etched in Black History. Retribution in the form of $$$$$'s is good but a Medical Research Institution embracing, the "Immortal HeLa" with High School students,pre-med and first year Medical Students be required to study/research HeLa Cells and its impact on the various Medical Break through in the Medical field.

As a member of the Lacks family, I read the article with more interest than most people. I have heard her story both at home and at school my entire life. She was poor, her family not well educated. But that was then. The story does say that the cells taken and made immortal were done so without her permission. Why are we not outraged by this the way we are by the Tuskeegee Experiments? I understand the medical marvel these cells offered, but stealing is stealing - regardless of the victim’s socioeconomic background. These infamous cells launched a multi-Billion dollar industry, with little if any money or credit to the unknowing inventor. If one of the Reese Farms relatives (Another poor, but white family from the same area in Virginia) were the victim, this would be a totally different book. That said I'd like to mention that my cousins look sharp in the photo. Dirt poor, but they were able to afford nice clothes, grooming and a professional photographer. Certainly they were not rich - especially by our standards today. But for the 1951 prejudice American South, they were holding their own.

Who paid the bill at the hospital. What documents did she sign? She was given the best treatment NO MONEY could buy. During the majority of cancer treatments, specimens are taken FOR THE BENIFIT OF THE PATIENT. If they are used elswhere in the support of humanity and medicine where's the beef. It's always about money and lawyers!!

Its a real great finding. I too used to teach about HeLa cell line in tissue culture, but could not find much details about it....Thanks to Rebecca Skloot for revealing it out.

Very interesting story for the benefit of society but there should be more to it like the Lacks’ family being compensated. Nothing was said if they were. Therefore this is plain thieving from the start (stealing the tissue sample). The right thing now to do now is to compensate this poor family. It seems that they were being exploited because they are not educated and they are people of African American descent. Rebecca Skloot will be getting rich now by selling the book but she did her part. But it’s the reality of those poor people’s lives. I hope some smart lawyer delves into this story and see to it that the right thing is done for this unfortunate family. I am not black but I am a person of equality.

this is horrible!

Nice!how can we protect that kind of taking cells from somebody saying "Medical exam"?Did her family got what the deserve in all sapects??

Edward Drinker Cope (July 28, 1840 – April 12, 1897) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, as well as a noted herpetologist and ichthyologist. "Cope identified four groups that displayed characteristics evidencing lower evolutionary status: the non-white races, all women, southern European whites (Jewish people and Italians included), and the lower classes within the superior races (Cope was particularly contemptuous of "the lower classes of the Irish"). The adults of inferior groups were considered throwbacks who remained in an arrested evolutionary stage, more like the children of superior white males." 1972-1976 US Government sponsored and directed The Indian Health Service in many Native American "reservations." Illegally sterilizing over 3,400 Native women without their knowledge or consent. Dr. Connie Uri, a Choctaw Indian Physician found out about the abuse and helped cease these operations. "In 1870, Dr. Sanford B. Hunt claimed that the average African American brain weighs five ounces less than the average white individual's brain, and the average mulatto's brain is smaller than the brain of an average African American. From this, Hunt concluded intermarriage between the races would produce inferior offspring. His studies played a role in justifying the need for segregated school systems. " The US Peace Corps assisted in sterilizing young Bolivian women in the late 1960s. The US Government played a key role in sterilizing women in Puerto Rico starting in 1937. Science, medicine can often bring out great changes but it can also be abused and used to condemn and misrepresent Race, Class and Ethnicity.

There is a difference between doing the "right thing/saving lives" and illegally removing a human beings intellectual or physical property. Science has often crossed that line and been rewarded for it in the past by Government. Is it right? Is it okay for Doctors to remove an individuals cells without that donors "consent"? The Tuskegee syphilis study/Public Health Service syphilis study conducted between 1932 and 1972 in Tuskegee, Alabama, by the U.S. Public Health Service. Investigators recruited 399 impoverished African-American sharecroppers with syphilis for research of the untreated disease, in hopes of justifying treatment programs. The researchers/scientists intentionally misinformed all 399 patients about penicillin after it became available in 1940. Many individuals died, infected others and had children with health problems due to this unethical decision. A response from Doctor John Heller of the Public Health Service laboratory was that "The men's status did not warrant ethical debate. They were subjects, not patients; clinical material, not sick people." "The revelation of the Jewish Holocaust and related Nazi medical abuses brought about changes in international law. Western allies formulated the Nuremberg Code to protect the rights of research subjects. No one appeared to have reevaluated the protocols of the Tuskegee Study according to the new standards."

Ms. Lacks was not uncompensated. She was treated at one of the best medical facilities in the world for free

Wow! Very Interesting I want to read the book. I do feel that the family living should be compensated for all the good that has come from the use of HeLa cells.

Fascinating story. I expect to see it on PBS some day, on a program like Nova, P.O.V., or maybe even Frontline.

What exactly should her family be compensated for? Did they do something to deserve compensation? Was this woman mistreated somehow? A tissue sample was taken. True she didn't give her consent, but she wasn't harmed at all! Where was the injury? Tissue samples are taken everyday, and no one questions where they are sent or how they will be used or disposed of after testing. This was not unusual or harmful to anyone. Rather than celebrating the fact that the samples were used to help all of us the family is bitter that they didn't get paid for something they had nothing to do with? I'm confused.

Great Story!!! I purchased the book yesterday. I want to know was the family compensated and when will the family appear of OPRAH!!!!

Nice article, I am very interested in reading the book for myself. However, the simple brushing aside of the idea that racism is not subtle and complicated misses the true depth of its influence.

Pretty sad how a great story about scientific research is twisted into some kind story of racial plunder.

These were cancerous cells removed from her cervix in the '50s. After generations of scientists made use of the specimens, discoveries were made and treatments developed.

And now, the greivance-minded boneheads translate this into cells stolen by whitey and just-deserved gains kept from the family. Pretty sad how every analysis must devolve to this kind of racist greivance-mongering.

Why should her family receive anything other than recognition? She didn't invent those cells - it's not like she was a recording artist and her performance is being republished without royalties being paid to her estate. No, in this case the doctors and scientists salvaged a very bad situation (this woman's cervical cancer) into something that would eventually, after a lot of hard work by a lot of people, into something good.

It's not like her relatives were being denied use of a bunch of cancerous cervical cells - they either went into a petrie dish or into the incinerator. The hard work of others was what made something good out of the bad situation.

Whether it's a right ot wrong situation,they all have to answer to God. Maybe they'll search their hearts and do the right thing. You thing?

My grandmother had a breast removed, my mother had a breast removed and gall bladder surgery and my father had a cist removed from his neck, among other surgeries over the course of their lives. I'm almost certain, there were tests done on that tissue. Who should I sue, in order to receive the most "compensation"? Show me the money!!!

Very interesting story! Amazing...

Quite uncanny indeed. Henrietta resembles me and I wouldn't be surprised if women of color were science subjects without them knowing because that's how scientists are. Their nature of inquisitiveness and fascination into the human world, especially when it comes to DNA, cells, reproduction. My mother died of Cancer (will be 15 years this April) and I had heard stories of how she had to be injected prior to her getting pregnant with me, so I would not be at all surprised if she had been injected with HeLa cells. Now that would be worth looking into, not only how the HeLa cells aided medicine with its discovery of cures, but how many were injected into women of color as a way of exploring and GENE MAPPING. I am going to investigate this if it takes me the rest of my mortal life.

The Book is called "THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS" by Rebecca Skloot. You can buy it at Barnes & Noble.

Nice Story,
If I had the money, I would probably buy the book myself! It is great that the author empathized that "good" came out of the taking of Henrietta's tumor cells, despite that fact that the original doctor took them without her knowledge.

However, with a the family being left in the dark about this for SO long. And with drug manufacturers & the medical community in general making literally Billions upon Billions of dollars on the discoveries they've made USING Henrietta's cells. I think some LONG overdue "Royalties" if you will are due this family. It is such a shame they have lived in poverty for so long while the rest of the world profited from their moms contribution to science.

Many many people would of died with out the discoveries made with Henrietta's cells. So we are ALL indebted to this woman. It is such a crime that this family was left to live in such squaller while all the rest of the medical world profited by the discoveries made from this woman's body. A note to the family though, I would say don't take just one lump sum.

Have the courts set up a "Royalty" percentage on all products made from your mothers cells. That way this will be a legacy that will be passed down through your family for generations, & should only get bigger & bigger over time as new technologies are discovered to be valuable from the use of her cells.
God Bless you Henrietta!.

Amazing to see all the different veiws!

As an African-American woman, I tend to rather agree with commenter Marion Brown. Every day this nation and its media trots out Wurlitzer-volume propaganda that I and other black women are "worthless" compared to all other women, who are promoted in this order: white women highest, Asian women next, Hispanic women third, and everyone else after, with black women not even on the list, or at the bottom.

Once again nature reminds the world black females are not worthless subhumans. This reminds me of the fairly recent scientific discovery that an ample backside may just keep women alive longer.

I suppose like first our skin color (tans), our hair structure (perms), our backsides (first the 19th century bustle to copy then then 20th and 21st century media denigration campaigns to devalue them), and our lips (collagen implants), our cell structure will be next on the replication/denigration list, eh? Keep vying, folks.

Outstanding! This should be in history and science books for the next generations. Great story, I'll email this to my kids. Thanks for the article.

I would like to respond to William Thomas' post criticizing the author, Rebecca Skloot. He impugns her character by calling her "self-serving" and referring to her "artificial magnanimity" in writing the book. Mr. Thomas, do you know the internal motivations of Ms. Skloot? Can you read her heart and thoughts? Apparently you have appointed yourself as judge. Instead of assuming that her motivations are as stated in the article (namely, interest in a fascinating subject), you assume that she merely has monetary profit in mind. Did you do the research and write the book? Are you jealous of her royalties? She earned them. Or maybe (and more probably) you are guilty of reverse racism - that is, assuming that someone of a different race could never have the noble motives that you yourself have. Of course white people are always looking for ways to take advantage of blacks. Do you recognize reverse racism here? "First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from someone else's."

Interesting is not the word nor the description. HaLa was the topic of conversation several years ago when several scientist were trying to prove the origin of HIV and the AIDs virus. I am interested in the book to see what value is placed on the deceptive work that the European world has and continues to prey upon what is called modern science. Henrietta Lacks story was plastered on the internet many years ago; then all of a sudden, the articles and stories disappeared. I hope this is not an attempt to whitewash the real story of what happened. This is a continuation of the Tuskegee Experiments all over again. By now non-whites should know what European scientist actual interest are.

While the family should be given something and that millions have been made by others the reaction of the family when it came to the money does seem greedy. I did not get that impression regarding the daughter. She should be give a proper place in history-it is well deserved. How many of the family have passed from cancer and how many are still alive?

I think the writer had every intention of magnifying the race implications here. "Poor black tobacco farmer"? I look at the picture of her and her husband and I see a very handsome couple of some success, she is wearing a nice fur lined jacket, and he is wearing a nicely cut suit and tie. They just don't look like poor farmers, black or white. I think it is wonderful this lady made such a significant contribution but am puzzled by the exploitation inference. If I had been in the same situation, and actually already have been, I would have gladly offered myself to the advancement of medicine. I'm sure this lady would have too. This whole thing is coloring the story in a bad light, even reading many reader comments, it is obvious that some people are turned off by the way it was presented.

"This was a great article. It is sad however, to know that any of us could have the same thing happen to ourselves or our families. We are not subjects to be used as doctors see fit. We are people and we must fight daily for our rigts and freedoms."

Again, it is very irresponsible of this article to suggest that the rights of human beings are not being taken into account - laws have been put in place as science has advanced and there are now entire divisions of the government that are in place to protect patients rights as well as any person involved in any kind of research. Nothing is taken these days without a consent form. If you don't sign a consent form, they cannot (or should not) use your cells for research. Typically cells/tissues are donated for research with no compensation. However, there certainly are companies that pay for donated tissues, especially normal tissues. Depending on the tissue, it could be from $50 to several hundred dollars. Donors are not given a cut of any profits a company sees as the result of the research, which of course would be decades later usually anyway and involve multiple cell lines. Some companies process tissues and sell to investigators - both normal and cancer tissues.

Several years ago, the government actually shut down all clinical trials at major universities because the human subjects protections were not being followed properly. Since then, things have really improved.

Gosh, maybe I should write a book - but it wouldn't be so exciting to read about this! It is more exciting to incite conspiracy theories!

"Is this for real and if it is, why haven't we heard of it before? Are you saying that the cells never DIED or that they were KEPT alive by the scientist?Or is this just to promote the BOOK?? Because it seems to be working. I don't have aproblem with that, just wanted to know...Is this serendity or....?"

Scientists work with "immortalized" cell lines all the time. They have either been transformed in a petri dish so that they continue dividing without petering out, or they have already transformed in someones body i.e. cancer - and they have the ability to keep dividing - AS LONG AS THEY ARE GIVEN THE NUTRIENTS TO LIVE. They can easily be killed as any other cell type, with bleach for example. They will not start to go crazy and invade other people and cause cancer in them. Sorry this story has ended up scaring people. It is irresponsible.

Wow!...this article is very amazing!...

this is incredible news is it possible to have those cells put in to you so you could live forever and is she still moving

This story is remarkable. It is unbelieveable that Henrietta's cells live on from decade to decades. I find this to be very interesting and yet very fabulous. Especially since she is a African american. I know that her cells will definitely be used for research to find the cure to cancer and many other viruses and so on. I am also glad that the daughter of Henrietta wanted to know more about her mother as well. It is nice to know that Henrietta's family will be known in history. It is also nice to know that this situation itself has tremendously made history.

HELAVA article, amazingly research done on the writers part. As a Biology student myself my hats off to her for staying the course,this never would have come to light. A MUST READ BOOK,great work thanks. The cells were frozen.

ugh, why would someone want to be immortal it disgusts me

I've noticed in the comments section, several writers are concerned that human cells can float on dust particles. Well, I got news for them: something like 80% of the dust in your house, floating or not, actually comes from human skin cells!

trying to make money from things like these have tended to raise moral and ethical questions........i suggest we keeping researching,but tread carefully....

Before the beginning of time, God had a plan for Henrietta Lack's life. He knew in 1951 that he would exhilarate her life's accomplishments through the heart of a sixteen year old girl, Rebecca Skloot. God saw the injustice and said, "I will correct the truth." The Bible says, if we hide our sin, God will shout it from the roof top. If we are robbed, God will recompense. It is no accident that this story was revealed during Black History Month, it was all in God's own timing. Glory to God who sees all, who knows all and who will correct all.

really interesting and new for me.....i think the book needs to be read ....

This is a great story.This should be in BLACK HISTORY MONTH,story about Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells was stolen from her cancerous body without permission. Scientists been trying to grow tissues in culture for decades. Her cells, amazing never died. It is sad, that scientists made billions from her cells. The family or offspring should get compensated. Thanks to the person who bought this story out. There are other stories that haven't came forth yet! Where are the Lacks family today? Is Rebecca Skloot giving the profit to the family? Do the right thing and you will be bless. Other was bless from Henrietta Lacks cell without her knowledge, her cells was stolen. I'm looking forward of buying this book.

People who jump on the "Racial" or "compensation" bandwagon are showing either their age or ignorance. At that time it probably was not unusual to send tumor tissue to "the lab" for analysis (even without getting consent) ..... it's called Pathology. Also, how do you know he didn't tell her ... if only in passing. It was not revealed if he "took" the cells via cervical scrapings, excisional biopsy, or if she had a hysterectomy. How did he know that the cells would be "immortal"? Maybe he didn't. He deserves much credit for doing what he did. People want to benefit from stem cell therapy .... should every egg and sperm cell donor be compensated millions if their cells happen to be the ones that turn out to be valuable. You speak of the cancerous cell as if they are "good", or if she wanted to keep them. I'll bet she, and her husband just wanted the cancer gone. While in a perfect world, the family would get noted or helped by the monies, the one who "deserved" to be "compensated" or "paid" had already died.

her cells dont live forever...its just that these cancer cells have ability to produce the same cells by mitosis permanently, so the younger cells replace the older ones. normal cells have limited mitosis, their chromosomes get shorter each mitosis.once the chromosomes reach critical lenght, the cells can nomore divine.

this is an amazing story, what is great about it she save lives. henrietta larks, she gave life to mankind, at a time when science, was just discovering cures on a small scale.the polio vaccine they found, when science diden't know how to cures cancer,and gene expression was never throught of until then.cellometer vision, cell analyzing.optimizing your cell isolation,increase cells yield and viability,now there are over 1,000.000 ready to use cells.in 1951, the family was taken advantage of, by a misfortune of henrietta she had cancer,and if she had not,there would not has been no cure for polio vaccine the scientists treated her without concent,diden't give back to her family knowely they were poor.what ever measures her family took, they earn evey right ,because the HeLa cell came from their mother, and as a wife. it's call giving back. when something so very very great was so achieve from it.one hand ,washer the other. if that had been an invitro. the serigate mother carring the child, after the full nine month,of the delivery, the serigate mother would be paid in full check, $26,000.00 dollars. and half at the signing of the contract. and some want the child, after they carry it, for nine month, now! you have to go to court. why do you thank the serigate mother wants to keep the child?because she see a financally stable life.

That's great story!!!!!!!!

Immortal Cells do not mean the cells they have today are the actual cells they took out of Henrietta. The cells they took from her keep dividing into new cells forever in a dish, that is what is meant by 'immortal.' So the cells they have to today are descendents from the ones taken from Henrietta. When scientists try to grow most normal human tissue in a dish, those cells will only grow and divide into new cells for only a few days to couple weeks before they are no good anymore...just thought I'd clarify that seeing some folks comments...

Never knew about HeLa cells, just like I am sure the majority of everybody out there. The worls owes this woman a lot. I agree with Kelly, a movie should be made about this. Hope it is about the contribution of this lady and not simply about racism and money.

Amazing story, there's no such thing as "immortality" its only the invention oh human kind......it shows only " money is root of all evil".

How do we know that the harvesting of her tumor cells was done without her consent? If only the doctor and the patient were in the room, she may well have given oral permission for the donation. Lots of people are willing to donate parts to science, even their entire bodies, without compensation, of course. Why is everyone so worried about the family being "compensated"?

Thank you for enlightening us, we now have yet another UNSUNG HERO to honor. And really nice narration !! Keep writing.

Thank you for this very informative story for Black History Month. In response to the silly comments about "vampires", it's important to clarify that the cell line continues to divide (generation after generation), but the individual cells do not live forever. Regarding compensation, I don't know if the University/researchers "voluntarily" compensated the Lack family, but several court cases have determined that patients have no legal rights to the removed tissues/cells/fluids and have no claims to any subsequent commercial products. However, there are rare cases where advocacy groups have acted on behalf of patients to specifically negotiate compensation in exchange for their biological tissues/samples. So, it is not impossible to conceive of a way to get compensation directly or indirectly. BTW, if you ever participate in a clinical study, make sure you read the Informed Consent closely, because the use of your biological substances for subsequent research activities should be acknowledged.

Adam Curtis of the BBC made a documentary in 1997 about Henrietta Lacks'cells and how they have transformed modern medicine. The documentary is called "The Way of All Flesh", and you can watch it on google video here
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8448974573505946013&hl=en#

There can only be one remind of that movie.serious this is a great story If one the physician or scientist didn't take the cell then this wouldn't be a story something are meant to be and this was one of them.its like the saying if you wait long enough it will come out in the end.some of these people in this story when I hear there name it bring chill all over me,reason my decease mother carry the name Henrietta and I got a sister name Deborah and the funniest thing I live in West Virginia I don't know if that was just common names in the fifty's and I'm from and Africa America decent.I would like to know Henrietta maiden name.I think this story will get greater view then amagine.it should be all about the story and only in heaven you should get the real pay check.

Interesting. Would love to read the book.

This'a great story.Helps strengthen my belief in God the almighty.From dust he made Adam,and from Adams'ribs he created Eve and for those who don't believe in Life after Death,this is a small proof .You need not look any further.Now instead of us criticising and talking about compensations,why dont we open up a fund where all of us in America and indeed the whole World,could show our gratitude by contributing,each one of us,just a dollar to the family .ln my opinion this could be our way of saying thankyou to the late"Henrietta."We are Millions in America alone,and Billions in the world.Surely a dollar is not so much especially now that we know the truth about the HELA cells.Almost all of us have be immunised against "POLIO",had it not been for her--l hate to imagine this--we would have all,probably,been useless to each other and nobody could have been there to comment and/or criticise.

She was absolutely beautiful!

I challenge the showbiz industry in a particular to the biggest hollywood movie makers, to please make this story in a real things that all nation can seen in a big screen so that we can all observe how the scientist can do to our lives. This is the amazing story i've ever read in my whole life.Jun - Phillippines

This is a big step in science.The family should be compesated.A further study on her offsprings may be interesting if allowed.

I am a cancer survivor...If the cells they took from my tumor are used to help someone else, great...As for the family being compensated, well how about giving them a job in one of those companies and some education to further their careers...Both of my parents died from cancer...What they did with their cells I have no idea, but if they are using it for research more power to them...To say they let her die because she was black is horrible...Look back at survival rates back then...We don't know what stage her cancer was...Bless her for her contributions and all though it was done without her knowledge, bless the doctor and the researchers too...Lets hope that this will be an eye opener and that all will realize the lives that were saved because of this...Also that the medical profession do things correctly so that controversies like this will never occur again...As for the family, maybe they could write a book about their memories and the daughter could share what she wished she could have had with her mother and what she would like to tell her...Also they could do talks on shows and share what their lives have been like...Maybe it would be a great eye opener for all humans to hear...

It would have been so nice if what went on with the hela's family with their campaign were written. It's an amazing story.

Should scientists be allowed to use any part of a human being without explicit prior consent?

The ethical question of human rights to our own body and its parts (including genetic information) is very important. The comments on this story illustrate how people fall on either side of the fence.

It doesn't matter that Henrietta might have taken ten dollars for her cells, or that she would have given them without a second thought. The point is ... she was never asked. She was treated like a "thing". And that was wrong.

It's a very interesting story, but the real question is whether the author will do anything for the family or will they behave like the medical industry that took advantage of them. As the author has stated vials of this woman's blood and genetic information have not only been used for positive purposes but have been sold worldwide. When do we loose the rights over our own blood? She was a poor woman and her husband only has a third grade education, can you imagine life growing up for her kids without their mother? I am appealing to the author to do the same as the author of the soloist, and to at least set up a trust fund where a portion of the money made for telling someone else's story goes to the person the story is about or in this case the decendants.

Great article! Looking forward to put this in big screen. This would be an interesting movie.

HEROINE! THE GODDESS OF THE CELLS! :D

Incredible story. Imagine your cells living on for generations. Amazing.

The outraged comments, ie. what they did to her, her family, what they stole, they got away with it because she was black, they should pay, etc. are too much.

Yes, by todays standards the lab scientists would not take a sample from one lab to another without approvals. But keep this story in the context of the time (in the 50's they didn't know much about cancer) and place (a scientific lab). And in perspective, it was a tiny cutting of a tissue removed for testing her health and it was then going in the trash.

They took it becasue they were searching for cells which would continue to replicate. They'd probably done this many times with samples from many other, black or white, patients. It didn't matter to the scientist if she was white or black.

I'm grateful for the scientists for doing their jobs. She was coincidental. I'm grateful they found her cells, but she's neither a hero or a victum. She deserves recognition as a footnote in history, but not compensation. Her family has a right to be proud of her and their family genes. But we don't owe them any money.

It's about time.. History has serve it's purpose once again. The wait was long but Mrs. Lack's Family can be proud of their mother one more time and remember that it is never to later. It is your time now.. She has sent you a beauty gift. Her life is with you one more time. Be very careful with it. Enjoy it and remember Your mother's life has given many, many people a new life.
Take care.

Very well researched and written piece indeed.I just wonder how much more Black contributions to world history and science the rascist scientific community has hidden. May i share this immortal thought ,"Truth crushed to Earth shall raise again from The ROOT for the Eternal years of God are hers,but error wounded, writhes in pain and dies among its worshippers."

cells are naturally build to last its in the bible. however scientist could not explain why

we die when our cells replacing each day to new ones. some will find it corny when the bible

says the sin we inherit from Adam our generation dies. That does make a bad story. True its not a story. Thats what the Bible says. The original purpose of God is to create a Man and Woman to enjoy life forever and procreate. Did we ever ask ourselves why we only live in a limited time of 70 to 80 years? When God really instill in our minds that we are longing for infinite life? God made us to satisfy for a living but why are we suffering this things? We die easily as if life is temporary where in we view the imortality as an extreme? Or we could just say like this things imortality rather we say everlasting life as really natural cycle of life the first time God made Man? The Bible tells the truth. But many critisize and dont accept the truth. the funny thing is they cannot answer the question why we die. Just email me if you want the basis from the txt quoted from the Bible.

Why is any of this not surprising? Has anyone heard of the Tuskegee Syphillis trials of the 1930s? It's part of a historical trend of scientists knowingly using the community to advance scientific knowledge. And yes, while it's great that we can all contribute something and make great strides in understanding complicated diseases- to anybody who says it's not about race- wake up and smell the coffee. Poor blacks historically have often been targeted unbeknownst to them- yet without any of the glory or compensation specifically because they were easy targets, often under-educated who wouldn't complain or present any obstacles in the reasearch or gain directly from the spoils of the findings. Henrietta L. and her family being a point in case. It's an insiduous form of racism and very pervasive. But- vive la scientific research and advancement and congrats to Henrietta Lacks!

Good story,nice,very interesting. I think the family should be compensated.

Reparation for the Lacks family? Not in the least. Compensate them for the use of the family name (why did the scientific community use HeLa for short? except to keep valuable info. for themselves. They didn't want to credit the Lacks' family. Forget about the issue of a doctor legally accessing tissue that was to be checked in pathology. There was no trouble accessing tumorous cells after Henrietta's day. Not just any cells would do. As for the "greediness" of the family: someone looked them up for their DNA in hopes of understanding the cells' contamination issue. They needed more from that family.

Ethical considerations evolve over time. As a Stage IV appendix/colon cancer survivor, I feel that my survival and recovery were due in large part to my participation in a clinical trial. One of the conditions for participation was to release all right to any biological samples taken during the course of my treatment. The accumulation and comparison of DNA profiles to treatments/results may very well lead to improved prospects for future cancer patients. I was impressed by the time and effort taken by my oncologist to discuss how my participation in the trial might help future patients. At no time, did my oncologist offer a promise of a cure due to my involvement in the clinical trial. At the start of my treatment, I was told that the best I could hope for was to have to disease become chronic rather than acute with continuous chemo (FOLFOX + Avastin) or other standard chemo for the rest of my life (a cycle 8 treatments followed by a chemo vacation over and over). He also mentioned that the very small tumors that remained after 5 hours of cancer surgery would be with me for life. My oncologist was somewhat dumbfounded that after 7 treatments, I had a no detect CT scan which was followed up by a PET scan and two subsequent CT scans that were also no detect. I was asked and did extend the number of chemo treatments to 12. To make a long story short, I was taken off the clinical trial on treatment number 12 because I “did not have cancer.” I am taking Avastin as a precautionary measure. He was rather surprized

Wow... All these views... Hmmmm..

Some black dude thinking, great injustice was done because she was black
Some white dude thinking, I better adopt a black child so I can undo some injustice
Some black researcher dude thinking, I better not slip my tongue
Some white "not so smart" dude thinking, Geez... my folks did all this research to help all humanity
Some yellow, brown and not so-white dudes thinking, where do I fit in all this mess..
Some non-American dude thinking, heck with these Americans, they rob every one...

Not all republicans are rich and not all democrats are poor...

Research does not happen just in USA. It happens everywhere and cells of every race are used in research and people from all races do research..

Each and everyone of us benefit from this research.. You don't have to be white to benefit from all the research that goes on in this world or for that matter in USA..

Some of us (Black, white, yellow, brown and not-so-white) give our samples for research and advancement of humanity knowingly and some of do it unknowingly...

Some of us give blood, organs, money, caring and love and some of us have a need to take the help some times...

It is just like most of us (White, Black, not-so-white, brown and yellow) that voted for a Black President and are proud of making the history in our life time..

I am just thankful that one of my fellow Americans gave her cells and another did that research

I, for one, am in debt to both for their contributions to humanity..

God bless them.. God bless America.. God bless our President.. and God bless you.. Yah.. YOU!!

Why is any of this not surprising? Has anyone heard of the Tuskegee Syphillis trials of the 1930s? It's part of a historical trend of scientists and doctors knowingly using the community to advance scientific knowledge. And yes, while it's great that we can all contribute something and make great strides in understanding complicated diseases- to anybody who says it's not about race- wake up and smell the coffee. Blacks historically (from the times of slavery) have often been targeted unbeknownst to them- yet without any of the glory or compensation specifically because they were easy targets, often under-educated who wouldn't complain or present any obstacles in the reasearch or gain directly from the spoils of the findings. Henrietta L. and her family being a case in point. It's an insiduous form of racism that is pervasive. But- vive la scientific research and advancement and congrats to Henrietta Lacks for her contribution!

GOOD JOB, DIGG ON THERE IS NOTHING DONE IN THE DARK THAT WONT COME TO THE LIGHT.

I thought this was a wonderful story and a clever piece to bring out for Black History Month, not something I have any particular interest in. I felt a little disheartened when I read about money coming in to it. Why weren't the family just grateful that she had lived on and helped so many after her death? But, and here is where the author is very good at her job, then I read on to hear about their impoverished lives. It seem unfair that they should be leading lives like that after all she has unwittingly done. However, I don't believe the scientists owe the family billions of dollars. It would be nice to see the family be able to afford to live comfortably, in homes and to have health insurance etc though. It is something to think about.

What an amazing woman. I'm sure she would be most proud of what her cells have done for humankind.

I thought the author wrote the piece beautifully.

Bravo!!!

wow wow wow... a narrative story fill with facts, not too sure and lots of money issues...

Many of things happened in 1851 and prior years befor that. During reserch of my family and its medical history i remember reading a story about my great uncle and how he joined the circus at age 11 and wondered why should a child of that age need to do this but as i research forther i realized that we as the people had no rights over our own, and if we did we were not to know about it. and now in modern culture we think we know a lot but is still keep in the dark the less we know the better for those who governers over us for personal gain. at this point in our live's knowing is power.

I am very glad that the author pursued the story and brought it to light. Everything in America is about economic status and race! If the scientist didn't think that there was any wrong doing, why keep the the HeLa's identity a secret? Why didn't the scientist obtain permission to disseminate Ms. Lack's cancerous cells? Would the doctor's have obtained permission if she had been rich and white? Why didn't the doctors, scientist, or corporations compensate the family? It also appears that there is no thought and no consciousness about all the money that corporations and scientists have made; and no formal credit with all of the medical breakthroughs that have happened as a result of Ms. Lack's cells. I hope that the scientific community will write Ms. Henrietta Lacks in the history, biology,business,law and medical books, and obtain for her the highest award that a citizen can receive in the service of one's country (posthumously). She should have a foundation established in her name by the Corporations who made so much money. Her husband, her children and grandchildren should get a formal apology from the scientific community; and some compensation,an educational trust fund, and lifetime health care for all of her generations to come as well as an opportunity to share in the author's proceeds.

This is really amazing.I love to know how come they live all these years!are there any other cells lived that long? could that mean there would be an immortal man on earth one day?

Very interesting and fascinating. This is truly stands out as one of the great and unsung contributions of a black person to mankind.

White or black, rich or poor.........I could care less. If the doctor initially would have asked her she undoubtedly would have said yes. If he would have offered her a paltry sum of money she would have taken it. The fact is the doctor got lucky and her cells lived when others did not. Who cares about the rest. Its just another thing for people to act self righteous and indignent over race issues. Much ado about issues all ready being beaten to death every day. Instead celebrate the medical advancements. I am sure she is not the only one in the world with these cells. Puh lease.

It is finally being shown that black people "are not" the physical weaklings that medical science likes to publish and protrait them to be. This woman cells and she had cancer, shows that all these negative reports we have been bombarded with in this country, forever that black people : have more heart attacks, have higher blood pressure, more diabetes, more strokes, are fatter, are more prone to aids, the list goes on and on than whites is nothing but fabrication. I've always believe that was the case and this woman cells are telling the world the truth. If she having had cancer and her cells are benefitting research today, there are properties in her cells that scientific research has shown, is beneficial in a major way or they would not be using them for all of these years. Thats the thing about this story, we better not lose sight of. Its like the tobacco companies know there are ingredients in cigarettes that keep people smoking, you see what I am saying. I applaud the author, for bringing this story to the forefront. Just think, at one time, all black people were good for, was picking cotton, working in the fields, remedial jobs. Now, the cells - dna, are helping people to live longer, who would have thought?

This is a wonderfully written article. I definitely want to know more! As for the compensation...I don't believe these cells can really be considered as 'taken' without her permission. If she went in to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment, she 'consented' to anything done as part of her diagnosis and treatment, such as removal of all or part of the tumor. If the scientists kept a little of it for research, I doubt that was 'stealing' the poor black woman's cells. Now, that the book is out, she will be immortalized for her contributions. I wish my mother, who also died of cervical cancer had had this opportunity. She would have been so happy to have helped.

Doctors save lots of lives; at the same time Doctors do some unethical acts. Twenty years ago my mother went for her check up, the Doctor said that her heart had to be removed or she will die in less than a year. My mother was smart enough to feel that her heart was working perfectly well. She never went back to see the Doctor. She is now 84 years old. Doctors are saying today that my mother has a baby's heart. They just can't believe an old woman has such a healthy heart at that age. I am not surprise about the story at all, my family has been there.

history is made i am happy and proud to be a black african.
had like to read the book and how much was given to the family

it'a a fascinating and a very sad story of a woman...it all happens because of some racists in the world....

those scientists should be taken to court,this is a really sad story,but however interesting.people exploiting their neighbours,the family of H.Lack should be settled(all entitlements right from 1951).I see it as the greatest act of wickedness,this is even worst than slave trade,if you ask me,using the families ignorance against them and shying away from settling them.wickedness!!!!!!

I thank Henrietta for the living cells as she has bruoght cures for everyone that have lived after her death and in her resting place she stills helps the living through her living cells.
To the family i salute you and your mother.To the doctors who took the Cells without consent i feel there is a lot more to tell than what they took from her.There is a lot more that they gave her that maybe should not have been issued to her with their trials.
I believe there is a case for them to get something back from this as they have been poor from beginning as from the time their mother was a tobbacco farmer and upto now.Maybe the reason why the cells have not died is because she will only rest after the family is well compensated.

Very interesting. I would love to read he book. Big Ups to HeLa for contributing so much into the world of research and development. Her family should be proud and compensated.

I SALUTE "Hela". This is a story of a guardian Angle who has lived on n lives on to save the world/humanity from self distraction n peace. I suggest that we set a day to honor this Great woman. On Mothers day Perhaps !!!! .TO the family, Please patner with a movie company for a seasoned classicc....

very interesting indeed!!! i would love to have a copy of this book.

Thank you for the info///

of course a Black womans cells could never die...well you know were she came from and were the first people came from.. So Thanks for Black History Month. or people would never know any thing about Black people/

Very intresting peice.
My only problem is that the researchers could of atleast give some credit to the Lacks family--to me it looks like the young lady's cells forever changed cell reaserch and made one particular company BILLIONS almost overnight...

wow! i cant wait for the movie version

Thanks for the good article, and for all who gave their thoughts, training and foresight to use cells that Henreitta had removed from her body, and to her for what she has given to science - she was under medical care to rid heself of cancer. I hope that her family will find peace in this history of their relative, and if there is money made because of her donation I hope the family can share,I also hope that it will pay for some of the research has been done and continues. If any piece of my ailling body can be useful to the medical profession in some way that helps others = GOOD!

hmmm.. wow..the cell actually grown or expand.. whatever, and is never out of stock???? i just don't get..anyway, she is an angel..

It's amazing...it's like having a neverending life.

Politically correct linguistic gymnastics:
She was not a "poor farmer." If she herself was the farmer (not her father or husband) then that would have meant she was well off enough to hire men to work her farm in which case she was not "poor." She does look rather prosperous in the picture, but I think you meant to say a "poor farmer's wife." She was married by 30, at last give her that dignity instead of your anachronistic nonsense.

I truly believe this Woman should recieve the title of "SAINT". Through her Cells so much has been done and so much continues to be done.
I hope someone who works in that area will see this and bring it to the decision makers on who gets into Sainthood?

Its one of the strangest thing i have heard ever, but now it makes me more keen n intrested in Tissue Culture...Hmmmmm i think i need to do a bit of a research as well on this n learn more about tissue culture...

very interesting story that i read in my whole life that after 59 yrs. cells still alive...it's amazing....

After being exploited by scientist in the past... Now, I'm afraid, HeLa family is being exploited by the writer...

In the past, HeLa died in poverty, meanwhile the scientists and corporates made a lot of fortunes and lived wealthy...
Today, HeLa family lives in poverty, meanwhile the book writer booked a lot of money from royalty...

It seems that, besides the renowned scientists that push science forward, there are many unknown others, who contribute to its progress. Long live the cells!

woman's immortal cells changed medicine.

hey it's nonsense find some thing more there r so many things r hidden so dont wana share ????

we are all a mutation of something. maybe something good or something bad/ (depending on your thaughts) all aside what she is doning after she is gone is a good thing. if she were still alive would she tell them to stop? dont take this wrong but she is gone.. her cells do not make her here. one cell or a millon+ does not make us who we are. some of us are good some of us are bad. DNA from one cell can make identical but not infanet identical. identical twins will not always eat or think like the other. to answer one question to the daughter not from one cell you cannot tell what her favoret color was. but i can tell you that her cells have made a huge inmpact on the world. i belive she was a good person and would help anyone she could. but at the same time i also belive the family should also be compansated for HER!!!!!!!!!!!!! no good dead goes undone!!!!!!!!! midical world make it right, you get paid (dont you), and you paid for the cells (company) didnt they? what has she or her family gotten??????? her sole and body may be gone, but she still helps you.. now its your (company and Dr's) turn to help her help her family. dont you think that is fare????????????

very interesting story. i am getting the book so i could find out more. if helacells helped with the polio vaccine then it has helped me.great article.

I think it is great but but there is still an issue of consent. At any time that tissue/cells/whatever is taken from an idividuals body there should be consent before it is used for anything else. What if there is a religious issue or a spiritual issue or any personal issue at all? If her cells are still alive can she really move on to the next realm if there is one?? Cells are the basis of our lives. Once again a person , whose identity was thought to not matter, was used in the name of science without their consent. It is not right. For every person who does not want to be used in this way there are many more individuals who would want to be used.

Henrietta's cells were 'Immortal' because they were taken from her tumor. That's what makes cancer what it is. Cancerous cells begin to grow uncontrollably and if unchecked, they invade the organs of the body and become more numerous than normal human cells. Scientists, however, have learned to do research using these "bad" cells to help make more "good" cells that are needed. This research has had it's successes and failures, but that's what research is all about!

I think one of the most amazing parts of this story is the identity of the woman & how it was kept underwraps for so long!

I need to buy this book.. its breathtaking...

I'm a medical genetics MSc student, but i did know nothing about the origin of HeLa cells before reading this piece. it is great that now we can thank Henrietta Lack's soul heartily. I hope that enough attention and regard would be sent to any one being helpful to the stream of science.

MY THOUGHTS: BEAUTIFUL, SAD AND AMAZING, ALL IN THE SAME SENTENCE.

WOW!!!!!
WHAT A GREAT STORY, I AM NOW INTERESTED IN HUMANS LIFE, AND I MORE NOW THINKING IF HOW LIFE WAS IF OUR CELLS ARE ALIVE IN MANY YEARS.

The h's family deserve a pay for this,did they get compensated?

i like the story.

its amazing .......nice story

I think it is great but but there is still an issue of consent. At any time that tissue/cells/whatever is taken from an idividuals body there should be consent before it is used for anything else. What if there is a religious issue or a spiritual issue or any personal issue at all? If her cells are still alive can she really move on to the next realm if there is one?? Cells are the basis of our lives. Once again a person , whose identity was thought to not matter, was used in the name of science without their consent. It is not right. For every person who does not want to be used in this way there are many more individuals who would want to be used.

This is so very interesting.I'm amazed at the fact that the writer has actually done a lot of research work which has eventually helped Henrietta's family demand compensation...which they otherwise would not have even known, they deserved. Well done Ms.Skloot !!

something special behind medicine and scince...
The Hela cells important to human being like scientists..
But..we should think about Henrietta Lacks' family..
they deserve get money...

It's amazing how many people are interested in reading a book about a supposed "immortal cell". How can anyone be certain that the cells are going to live forever? After all, it's been less then 60 years since the cells were harvested. There are individuals all around the earth who live beyond the century mark. Immortal implies forever. Have you ever pondered "forever" ? Is living a thousand years forever ? or perhaps a million or even a billion years ? What percentage of forever would even a thousand trillion years be ? 50%?, 25?%, 1%? That huge number with enough zeros behind it to atretch to the most distant galaxy wouldn't even be negligable compared to forever. It's an infinate number and our finate minds cannot comprehend infinate. Again I say it's amazing that so many people want to read about the "immortal cell" when there is a book that comes with a 100% guarantee for everlasting life. Yes, living forever without any of the physical, mental or emotional problems we as humans struggle with in our everyday lives. Yet very few people want to read it and get the true sense of it that they might gain this everlasting life free of all the sorrow, pain and hardships that we all as human beings suffer through. Oh yes, I know many of you know all about it, many of you even call yourselves believers and even followers of the instructions contained within the pages of that book. But if that were the case then one of it's main characters would not have been able to say that "few find it". Even though it's the most published book in the history of our planet and it's printed in just about every language on this planet, it's true sense remains hidden or "veiled" to the people of the world. Although EVERY WORD that it's author has had written down for a witness to us has come true, we as humans still don't get the true sense of it's message.

I find it interesting that donner cells are now taken anonymously. The fact that ones DNA may contain a cure and one may never be compensated for that is only the tip of the iceberg. If noone knows whose cells are presenting a unique health or life threatning strain noone will know how to contact the subject to help them and their family. In medical journals patient images are included more often than not. Do they supply concent to this? What are patient rights if they would rather their images are not presented in case study?

It is good to ask the right question after the dust has settled? Of the many questions that come to my mind, one that I feel requires further reflection is:

What made Henrietta's cell immortal?

There are many other reflective questions but these could be raised at a later date.

Talk about "tell me a story"! HeLa, la, la, la! What an umbrella she has created.

Whew! watta intersting info! :)

I'm interested in this story.where can I get the book?in Malaysia?MPH?

wow, i thought HeLa cell was an abbreviation for a certain scientist... as a biologist, i never knew that HeLa cells came from a cancer patient

now u have just made me interested in cells very amazing story but what does it all mean can we clone people can we make people live forever i mean sometimes people need to get educated on this stuff

The story and the scientific evidence is just confirming that Human soul is really immortal.

Henrietta lives on somewhere in eternity. Where would you spend your? In heaven? or ...

A nice one there. Maybe this story will bring her family to the limelight and they can be compensated.

Aren't cancer cells meant to divide rapidly? I guess that's what kept them alive. A slamming article.

How did they use cancer cells to make a polio vaccine?
How do they kill the cancer cells before the vaccine is given to Babies? What? I know research is expensive, I understand that, How can this be safe?

A wonderful true story.

I just hope things are discovered in uour lifetime so that we can become immortal and escape the lonely planet of death!

Omg ! sounds very interesting , i would love to read the book. This is an encouragement,to study more in the field of science .

a very interesting story and as a white person it has no bearing on color that the story made me want to go buy the book and get more information concerning the family and circumstances involved with tissue taken without the persons knowledge of the use of their own cells.

very nice..i will find that book and buy it

I was also thinking about that doctor at John Hopkin's that removed the first tissue, was he treating Mrs. Lack? How did a black woman during that time period get "treated" at such a prestigious white hospital? Could it be that since they had been trying to grow cells in a culture for years and failed, they "used her body to grow cancer cells" also without her knowledge. Possibly they used her and other poor, uneducated blacks in the place of cultures. Maybe she never had cancer prior to the cells being injected into her to use for experiment. What happened to her after the tissue extraction, did they treat her for the cancer? That was not mentioned, however since she died at 30, we can assume she wasn't treated. This type of known history is the reason so many black people are suspicious of being involved in research projects or checking donor on drivers license.

I too found this article to be most educational, amazing, and fasinating. The thought of cells continuing to live this long past the individuals death is truly a miracle, one that only God could have blessed. The scientist in this article obviously saw something in this womans tissue sample that they found interesting, because I know that she was not the first woman to come to them with cervical cancer. There had to be something special that they witnessed for them to go to those underhanded measures to steal a sample without her permission. The article stated that her husband only had a 3rd grade education and did not understand what had happened to his wife, which tells us that this family was and continues to be taken advantage of. This womans cells were essential in deveoping the "Polio Vaccine" and "Gene Mapping" "Vito Fertilization" and even sent up into space to see what they're reaction to "Zero Gravity" would be and we don't even know how many million of dollars in grants have been given out just from the many developements that have already come from these immortal cells. I believe that her name was not changed or kept a secret to protect the family, but to protect the scientist who stole the cells in the first place from the family eventuallly wanting their share in the monatary windfall.

One should not take it as easy. It is a crime committed by a white scientist using some one's body parts ( whether it is black or white ). Any how, if the actual lady could not benefited at least her kids should be.

All cancer cells are "immortal". There is nothing new in this article except an attempt to grandise a simple procedure(by today's standards) into something greater than it is.

Great read and great information!

Amazing! Great writer who leaves the most intriguing part for us to purchase the book. How can I get the book in Kenya?

this article makes me want to buy this book and as a young reader I hope the HeLa cells may contribute to good use and that the company may help Lank's family out of poverty or at least pay them(cash) for the use of H.Lank's cells.I hope Henrietta is with God now watching over Deborah and her brothers. :P

the family will probably get compensated by the book sales.

I think this is a great contribution to science. Enough of the welfare addicts more worried if they can sit back and get a check off somebody than being happy or proud that a great contribution to science has been made that is benefiting millions, and probably themselves more than money could do. How selfish. Shame on you guys looking for a quick buck.

Just came across this article. It makes extraordinary reading. Yes,there was bound to be the inevitable cry of exploitation and racial shenanigans, however, without exploratory endeavours of our erstwhile scientists,white or black; the advances witnessed today would have been non-existent. Kudos to the author of this revelatory book. It will make a difference. The family invloved are entitled to rewards...good karma must follow.

The priviledged sector of any society will never realize the long term effects of discrimination the less valued class endures. This story is a great historical fact that once again shines light on the contributions of Blacks to our society. Yes, times were different and things were done differently, but the fact remains that Blacks were treated with less than their value as a people. It's typical for someone to say that the family does not deserve any form of finacial compensation, but to what end has this woman's DNA changed the face of medical discovery? Who is to say that the use of her DNA is not on the same par as any major medical dicosvery of this century? While it is true that the discoveries in this case were stumbled upon by White doctors, it is no less deserving a contribution as the recognition so many other less significant things receive. Why is it so hard to give credit where credit is due? A black woman's cells have helped to save thousand, maybe millions of lives of all colors. I think with all the money made in the medical field, this family should be shown some compensation for their mother's contribution. It's like using/stealing the best part of someone else's Doctorial thesis to get your PHD and not listing them in your bibliography. WRONG, simply.

Illya A. Sowell (Black American)

I'm a biotech student and I've worked with HeLa cells before. I've tried asking my lecturer what HeLa stands for but he couldn't give a straight answer. This is a great explanation! ^^

How quickly this fascinating HUMAN story became one of race and exploitation. Sharpton, Jackson and all the other racist ambulance chasers are a little late in jumping on this bandwagon. Give it up and be proud that your relative was a silent, unsung medical hero. There are countless people from all races and walks of life out there who don't expect "compensation" for what they wittingly or unwittingly have contributed to society. I'd say the real shame in this story is on those seeking a free financial joy ride from something they never had a thing to do with. My great grandfather died in the Ellis Island infirmary from neglect, yet our family who did live and work like slaves in the sweat shops of NYC never sued the federal government for compensation, in spite of the impact it had on our family. Financial joy-riders tarnish Mrs. Lack's memory. This is a story about honoring a medical heroine, not financial gain.

It is really sad the way this story plays out. I am glad for the advancement of modern medicine, but the way credit was given to Mrs. Lack was a little disrespectful in my eye. Mabye I am wrong, but I am tired of reading about the lack of education, and how poor black people were durig the times of slavery. Was it really necessary to exploit the family? If you dont know what I mean, I am talking about how the brother was homeless, and how no one cared until money waws involved. Myself, like many Americans know that the family of Mrs. Lack will not be compensated for her cells, but atleast let the world know of the great discovery of living cells without the discrace. Thats like me saying Elvis Presley died a great man, but before he died, man he was FAT and STINK. Its just wrong no matter how you look at it. If you have a comment to direct to me, hit me up at aguas26@yahoo.com

Amazing article! I've worked with HeLa cells in my research, so I knew a little about where they came from, and of course what HeLa cells are. It was amazing to learn a little more history of Henrietta Lack. Thank you! I look forward to reading Ms. Skloot's book!

I see a lot on here about compensation, and cries of theft. And I'd like to say, wow, really? Sure, now that they know about what her cells are, and what they've done, compensation would be good, but at the time, how could the doctor have known about the worth they would have in the future? And theft? That's incredible that you're indignant about the doctor "stealing" those cells. Personally, I don't mind contributing to the human race as a whole, though I doubt that I have anything special that would be as useful as the HeLa cells, and if I found out that my doctors took something from me that didn't hurt me in any way, and it helped develop new medicines to save lives, I'd probably kiss them.

I can't imagine her type of cells being unique. Instead, I can imagine them being extremely rare.My forfetched conclusion would be that at some point in history all human beings entire bodies were immortal. The highly abused soil of today is far too weak to produce extra-super-duper fruits and vegetables capable of enabling human beings to become immortal, as it once did. The few immortal cells remaining upon this planets, like Harriet's, are ancient survivors. They are the most valuable endangered specie of them all.

Glory be to God. The bodies of prophets do not decompose. Nor do the bodies of righteous people who believe in God. This is according to a saying of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him -- God's Final Prophet to All of Humanity.

In Illinois, there is a lady from the 1930s whose body is not decomposing and she is on display in a small museum in a small town. I forgot the name. You find examples of this all over the world.

Why so many comments about compensation to the family? If I were told that my cells could save the lives of millions if not billions of people and change the course of medicine as we know it; all from a discarded cancerous tissue sample, would that not be payment enough? And if the doctor were truly a racist, he would have never contemplated trying to replicate a black woman's cells as the key to unlocking this miracle. This is such a great story and it is saddening that race and monetary value has to be associated with it.

amazing story, the family of Henrietta should be compensated, i agree with one of the comments, taking someones cell without her knowledge is like robbing someones property and i think its a criminal act, a robbery in broad daylight..other people earned a lot of money over someones cells is I think, unfair..

first of all i would like to thank all the survivors of henrietta's family members. she is like an elephant, because after the death also we use some parts of the elephant know. she is like a match stick or candle because they end their lives after giving lights to us.

This is mind blowing!

I find it to be hugely ironic though. . . . .Every level of capitalistic institution of the medical industry was able to make trillions of dollars from the uniqueness of this woman's very birth. On the other hand, her family is so poor that they can't pay for any of the cures that were discovered from Henrietta Lack's cells if they needed the care. To those who wish to diminish Henrietta Lack to something less than human, she has probably saved lives that you cherish, simply by being born. So far, no one else on this huge planet can make that claim. . . . . .. . .

interesting..

everyone who has had any cancer screening or blood draw should look into this case as it was stated in the article that her cells were taken and used for research without her knowledge. Cancer screening and blood draws benefit patients but who knows if they really discard after what they do what they say they're gonna do.

I believe the heirs of Henrietta are entitled to the profits derived from the use and sale of the Hela cells. The cells, being a necessary part of her body, are personal properties of Ms. Lack. They were extracted from her without her knowledge and consent which made the extraction and possession by third parties of the said cells illegal. The immortalized Hela cells are deemed stolen goods and those who use, sell and profit from them are deemed to be accessories to the crime of robbery. As such, all money derived from the illegal sale and use of the hela cells, specially now that the incident has become of public knowledge, must, and should belong to Ms. Lack's heirs. They deserve every cent of it. I advise her heirs to secure the services of a good lawyer to protect their interests.

Does Oprah know yet?

I disagree with the gentleman who wrote that Henrietta's family must have a "welfare mentality" because they want some kind of compensation for her stolen cancer cells. Many people receive financial compensation for their participation in medical research studies. I am a scleroderma (an autoimmune disorder) patient. In the 1990's, I participated in a patient study. The researcher took a tissue sample from my arm, and closed the wound with a few stitches. Yes, I received a small amount of money for my participation. However, I would have participated for free, and I consider the scar a "badge of honor". I look at it with pride, because I was helping other patients like myself.

I don't know if Henrietta's family would be eligible for compensation, but merely asking for it does not mean they have a "welfare mentality". At least nowadays, compensating people for their participation in research is commonplace.

Fascinating HeLa cells. WOWWWWWWWW. Thats incredible to learn.

I don't think that the medical industry should be able to own biological property for the purpose of making obscene profits that bankrupt the patients. Making billions of dollars way beyond the cost of research, developement, employee compensation, resource procurement, corporate risk and shareholder contribution is what I mean. I know that it can cost a lot of money to develop a product. There should be compensation. At the same time, don't treat a human being as if we somehow don't deserve compensation when you want to make money off of that person.
People are not lab rats or some weed in a field to be used with no second thought. This capitalistic system has set the rules when they expanded ownership of intellectual property to that of biological tissue. Why is this poor family being castigated as greedy for wanting compensation after their mother's valuable contribution to humanity? They should have at least some right to biological ownership. When the medical industry can make trillions from a person's cells, that person and their immediate family should be richly compensated. We are not lab rats and should not be treated as such.
If something unique about your body could be used to cure many diseases and you stipulate that no medical industry could monetarily profit by bankrupting patients, what do you think would happen? I wonder if that doctor ever tried to cure Henrietta Lacks, or did he just send her home like those so used in the Tuskeege "experiment". Lab rats indeed.

I believe that the fact that so much benefit has derived from the cellular line developed and propgated by scientists brings up a very significant issue. Who really has the rights to her cellular line? I am sure vast profit has been generated from a sample she was never made aware of, how many other people have bits of themselves traded n a marketplace that the "donor" is never made aware of? Doesn't her family and heirs own the rights in part at least to the benefits generated from her serepticious removal of her cells, no matter how benevolent the intent. How many of us have our cellular selves generating a profit for some pharmaceutical company without recognition or compensation for the informed or uninformed "donor" or more appropriately vitim of theft. I feel this woman's heirs deserve to be greatly compensasted, as should the many other "donors" who remain unknown and unnamed!!!

This is very interesting, like everybody else I feel the family of this woman should be compensated and also that doctors and scientist alike should seek the consent of the persons or people involved before proceeding in other to enhance Human dignity. However the most important lesson of all is that under perfect conditions Humans can "Live for Ever" since we are made up of billions of cells.

Good Job on the article.

Thanks.

Ola.

Sounds like the path to immortality for researchers.
I hope her children will be cared for via a 'monetary trust' since the world has used and still needs the use of her immortal cells. They have a right to her legacy as an inheritence, which the world has been utilizing as a means to save others.

Great work Zielinski!! Congratulations for sure!! I will have tu hunt for this book and buy it!! The word of God assures us of prosperity! Indeed Sarah let this family get involved, I know that the amount of money lingering in the pockets of those scientists can get a descendant abilities of becoming a renown great scientist in this world!!

Every one concerned lets join hands!!

SPEECHLESS, Now that's a story. Well it was GOD's will that the scientist would steal this GOD's gift to earth lady's cells to help the human race out with our health.

GOD is so wise that he created human being with immortal cells. Its up to scientists to develop it since GOD gave talent to few individuals to cure patients with dreaded disease.

Has there been any other donors with immortal cells since HeLa? Somewhere? I find this fascinating, and would like to hear more stories dealing with biology and science.

It just goes back to that old saying,what ever is done in the dark will come to the light.

This is very important in the name of immortality.

Great subject....getting close to god's invention of human beings!

Prior to 1962 the medical field took whatever they wanted for experiments. Unbeknown to every race, creed and color! That is why we have had consent forms since 1961 for everything when treated at a hospital or doctors office. That also includes them not responsible if you die! Her heirs deserve a substantial settlement for this harvesting of lab creations for monetary gain, and it doesn't matter what color she was!

One of the BEST articles I have ever read!

im from clover and id heard of the HeLa cells but i didnt know it was from henrietta's. i know some of her family members. this was a great piece and its a story that should be told. thank you.

Well, as for my brother, sister and me, we are alive today because of new experimental treatment during our childhood.
Thanks Henrietta,

This article is much misleading. The truth is all CANCER CELLS are immortal when maintained in a proper laboratory environment. If you are thinking of buying the book, please know this upfront.

Now lets see how long it takes science to figure out how to trick the non cancerous cells to replicate endlessly. Right now there is a limit of about 70 replications for each cell.

I was born in '51 and I know that my mother didn't have the money to have a coat with a fur collar and my father didn't have the money to own his own suit & tie like the one in the picture of Henrietta & her husband. I guess that we was poor too and didn't know that folks owed my family for somethings that happened to my Irish great-grandparents when they were forced to come to America from Ireland - they didn't get compensated for it. They worked so very hard to become "Americans" who have an Irish background.

in the end...we can say...THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR MARVELOUS WORKS...she was an instrument..an angel sent to reveal your message!nothing encompasses when HE created MAN!

All the doctor had to do was go to Henrietta Lacks and tell her they would be examining the tissue they took from her and the research would be used to help others. See how simple that was? You know that she would have readily agreed and not even thought of compensation. It did not occur to us in those days to expect compensation for taking out a cancerous cell mass, unlike today when people want to be compensated for stubbing their toes when entering an elevator. Still, it would be nice if some lab or hospital were named after her. She did an immense thing for humankind and did not even have the pleasure of knowing she was doing it. That is sad. Through her we all have been blessed.

great story!!! i want to know if the family received money? also, it wasnt fair that the scientist didnt say anything . that is the way they are going to be treated.

she died of cancer? HOw many people injected with her cells died of cancer also? Scientist didn't mention the side effects on the sampling of Hela. Stranger thing is that the cancer rate increased over the years, after all the injecting...creepy!

Amazing story.Hit the stores we need this book

this is a very touching story in the field of science and medicine......at the same time a moving case about racism. let us learn a lesson here and let us take a moral stand over this issue.

This article is much misleading. The truth is all CANCER CELLS are immortal when maintained in a proper laboratory environment. If you are thinking of buying the book, please know this upfront.

Now lets see how long it takes science to figure out how to trick the non cancerous cells to replicate endlessly. Right now there is a limit of about 70 replications for each cell.

I was just 17 but I got so interested about H.Lacks story. You're indeed a great writer. I love biology so much now and even when I was in high school. I am very eager to share something new in the class every discussion we make. I guess this one would be another scoop for me. It's a great piece and story.

What this article fails to highlight is that cancerous cells are in fact immortal. There was nothing unusual about Mrs. Lacks cells...the article infers otherwise. Anyone with a fundamental understanding of biology would know that cancer cells continue to replicate.

Cells afflicted with cancer (as was the case with Mrs. Lacks cells) are "immortal" due to their endless ability to replicate. Normal cells stop replicating and die after a certain number of replications. This is why most people if they live long enough succumb to cancer. Their normal cells have ceased replicating (died off) or mutated into oncogenes (cancer cells).

Just trying to keep real here. Yes, it's an interesting story, but lets not get carried away with vampiric immortal cells. If George Hamilton succumbed to Melanoma (a likely candidate), his cells would also be pulling a Dracula (immortality) 50 years from now!

Hope a trial Lawyer will find this article. John Hopkins should be sued and charges filed against them.

really outstending writing. the story is gripping. i as well would love to read more. as far as the family getting compensated, they should if other people are making money off of their moms cells so should they. science has come a long way now and i bet anyone if asked to donate cells for the good of meicine and research in this day and age would jump at the chance. back then most didnt know what science was doing or trying. but we have alot to thank for what has been done then and now.

And what work,time,energy ect. have the family put forth for this "compensation"? Why and How in the world did this become an issue of "monies"? This is a wonderful story about an amazing woman. Period! Not a racial issue, Not a money issue, just an awesome piece of History!

What an amazing story by a very talented author, very impressive piece, I will definitely be buying the book.

thanks for the article! im a big fan of science and space but i was never taught or discovered this. im very intrigued. might look into the book.

Quiet fascinating ... please keep us posted! Excellent work Rebecca Skloot.

why am i not surprised about the findings of this woman. what is sad is white sceintst had been experimenting on african americans for years before civil rights from what my older relatives said . what about the men who had VD and they wanted to see how blacks react to it compared to whites and if yall do not know back in the 40's and 50's in some cities they promised free health care assistance and would sterilize black children.

What an interesting story, much to learn off.

Thats a miracle story from among human compilation of science oriented causes..she must be of pure genes and heart that is why she was blessed..

What a history, great writing and interesting story. This is the type of story we want to read. Thank you.

what a great contribution for science!!!but all people do u know who's d greatest scholar that actually found this 'piece' a very long time ago???find it out urself...

Wow, what a nice story. This is the ever life story that moves.. And the man that figure this out is really brave.. Keep it up, as i have learned allot from this book.. It is very good to be wise, even in the Old Testament, when Jesus was born, it was only the Wise once that went to see him... You really did it with wisdom and its all sounds interesting.. Lol.

Wow this has really caught my interest i want to go buy the book tommorow! Great article!

thats an amazing story.

All i have to say is we are living proof that any thing is possible. Cant wait to buy the book and find out more about the her cells,this story is so interesting.

will it do the donor any bad to have his/her cells studied especially since for research purposes? granted her cells were taken without her and her family's knowledge but imagine how much lives could be saved because of that contribution. why not go for tissue culture? is it not good to use human cells for this? since we have millions other cells in our own bodies and have the capacity to regenerate, are there any alternatives besides human cells, animals perhaps...very interesting topic

Have you ever thought of this story being a movie it is actually very interesting for a person that does not like Science or to read i really enjoyed the article! Great Job!

I believe that this is part of the prophetic events in the bible that man will live 1000 years once the Christ reigns. Amazing!

AMAZING! Im reading this ASAP! I hope the family gets what they rightfully deserve.

Great article, thanxx, What an amazing event!! , need to know more.

WOW...i was really shocked to hear this in a way but i could not stop reading this article. I'm not a fan of reading but i even read the comments that people have posted. it was wrong for them not to let the family know of the HeLa cells but it had to be done. the scientists were wrong for that but they had good in mind. they have helped just as much as henrietta. i've enjoyed hearing about this story so much that i would like the book. i'd even enjoy watching the movie if they ever made one of it. thanks henrietta and may you be with good.

We must never forget that we humans alone have the power to unlock this"Pandora's Box" that God gave us! Yet we must always be aware that our intellectual strivings must be combined with human foresight, ethics, and morality! All things that God Blessed Us With, yet we tend to devalue them, claiming them to ourselves, as being of our own genius. WRONG!

I belive the family should be compeseted..And its an amazing story.

As a physician and scientist and mostly a Father and human being, I am APALLED at the total lack of knowledge of the general public and the SUSPICION in which the medical community is viewed. Cancer IS NOT CONTAGIOUS, this contaminated OTHER CELL CULTURES, IT CANNOT CONTAMINATE PEOPLE!
When this cell sample was taken NO ONE had even an INKLING that it had any scientific value, LET ALONE monetary value.
There was no devious intent.
A researcher simply wanted to know more about cancer and HER TISSUE SAMPLES WERE READILY AVAILABLE from her treatment. She was NOT SUBJECTED to anything other than the regular treatment of her cancer.
It was an amazing and glorious chain of circumstances that her cancer contained a mutation as part of becoming a cancer that made it immortal (that is what cancer is! a loss of the cell cycle's control!) What an amazing thing that this woman touched the modern world in this way! I lost my father to a heart attack when I was 16, and I would take great solace if he had lived on in this way some how! Like being an organ donor to the ENTIRE WORLD!
But she was neither wronged nor harmed in this story INTHE CONTEXT OF THE ERA IN WHICH SHE LIVED.
This is not about race, or blood lines. It's about a victory for the human race and for a strong woman who died too young.
This could not happen without her permission today.
If it was not HER cell line it would have been someone else's. But WHEN?
Her accidental contribution to medicine is ENORMOUS.
I have personally held these cell culture lines in my hand, and not given much thought to the amazing story behind it.
Compensation? Hardly.

wow! that's nice and also made science and technology more innovative!! yet, it's kinda creepy.. LOL XP

God bless America, another kick for another black family, and I bet the author will flourish and not the family who she hounded for information. $'s for the medical field and the author, America's is wonderful. Another one of their well kept secrets, but they got greedy and wanted to examine the rest of family to see what else they could they could use to help promote the medical field and keep it out of the reach of the poor. Discover great things from the poor and they can't afford to buy it.

This was an amazing story. I was hooked to it when i first saw the post. This is just incredible. I love to learn new things and this is just another fact that i did not know. I have something new to tell my kids if they ever ask me about cell research.

Two words for the article/book: "Master-Piece"!

Why is everybody so concerned about the family being "compensated" for a sample of cancerous tissue?! I have had so many biopsies taken, little cancerous pieces of my flesh that I assume are thrown in medical waste dumps somewhere. But if someone found something useful to do with these nasty bits, something that could help others, I would be happy. And I can't imagine my sisters drumming up plans to get $$ for diseased little pieces of me.

that was an interesting article... the moment i saw the topic, it caught my attention. hope to know about "HeLa" cells and the family behind it. pls update us of any new info.

congrats to cristie jee tumulak for having passed her nursing board exam... ;)

this is scary to me the way the cells r still living and they don't now but I think they should of given the money to the family and ppl that work in the lab will kill things and ppl to get an answer I guess not sure but I'm scary

In the 70's I had hepatitus. I was in the hospital and they believed I would not live. The lab milked my veins for the virus 2- 3 times a day to make vaccines. They did not tell me what they were doing , I found out later. They cashed in on me, and I never got a penny. I am happy for those who received the benefits, but this was an exploitive kind of theft by todays standards of biology and patented genes etc. The experiments with steroid drugs made it possible for me to live although I spent an entire year bedridden.

Wow, what an amazing article. I Do not believe what the Doctors did was malicious. Was it unethical, definitely. Does he owe the the family an apology, of course. But let's face it, back in the 1950's almost anything could be done to a person of color without recourse.

Unbelievable, cells that never died; interesting piece. Im currently attending a community college and im sure that my proffesor will be intrigued at our next discussion.

She was a mulato" woman. No black, sorry.

This was a wonderful article! Henrietta Lack's story should be written in every history book. Everyone that figured Henrietta's family shouldn't receive some compensation, or are 'greedy', are people that most likely have enough money to live on. Try living in true poverty a couple years, then re-think your statements.

That is fascinating. I worked with HeLa in grad school in the 70s and I would always wondered about her.

How do I find the book? I love to read good human interest storing and this has a scientific twist. Great.

Quiet fascinating … please keep us posted! Excellent work Rebecca Skloot

i find this article very interesting! AWESOME!

science has once again given us hope for a cure to some of these ailments.thanks Mrs.Henrietta Lack

"A doctor at Johns Hopkins took a piece of her tumor without telling her and sent it down the hall to scientists there who had been trying to grow tissues in culture for decades without success."

Key words: without telling her. Do you think that this would have been attempted on a white female during the time period? That seems like a loaded question to ask, but the answer is an obvious "NO!" Which brings me to my next point. Any time doctors or medical professionals take samples or do/test something on people's bodies without telling that person and getting consent, is WRONG. And to those of you who live in a "happy place" where you remain "colorblind" and say that "it's not about color it's about research," I would urge you to do some "research" of your own and look up sterilization practices on slave women, and on all sorts of brown and red women (and men) in US history or maybe the Tuskegee Syphilis study.

Then, re-evaluate your "colorblind" argument, and come to terms with the nasty truth. Which is something that, apparently, this writer has not done... although she claims to have graduated with an upper level degree. To OVERLOOK the fact that this woman, a black woman (a POOR black woman)'s cells were taken shortly before her death and without her consent, within the context of black and brown BODIES being used as EXPERIMENTS and research without consent, definitely deserves FURTHER examination and at least recognition. Otherwise, to me, her book is worthless and does Henrietta and her family an INJUSTICE.

If this woman were a woman who was tested on during the Holocaust, would everyone's reactions be the same? Would her being dead make it "okay" that she had samples taken without her consent, and turned into records and scientific knowledge? Please, don't lose sight of the ethics. If we lose sight of ethics, we have begun to lose sight of what it is to be human. Hopefully this author will come out of colorblind fluffyland soon.

Compelling and fascinating....I would personally like to learn more about the family through books, articles. The benefits from this are phenomenal to say the least. It was an African American that helped to discover or solely discovered a way to technologically communicate; what we now know as the world wide web (sorry Al Gore!). We cannot change history but we can change the way w are going forward now. Remember the atrocities suffered by so many and look at them in shame (this includes slavery, denial of respect due to skin color by ALL races) and turn what information is now at hand and utilize it to change the present into a POSITIVE tomorrow. Who cares what color this woman was/is, if reparations will follow, etc. Thank God the rest of the world can thank the daughter that her mother made such a huge contribution to medical science!

Truly an excellent article and I will read the book. For the last 30 years, I have known about HeLa cells and their use in science. I am glad now to know more of the story about the donor's life. Does anyone know how to petition the Nobel Committee so that Henrietta Lacks should receive a Post-humous Nobel Peace or Science award? Contact me if you do.

will it cause any damage to a donor if samples were taken from his/her body? granted the scientists took her cells without her and her family's knowledge but wouldnt it be nice to know you somehow contributed in a way to science, developing vaccines for other possibly incurable diseases that will kill a whole lot others. why not go for tissue culture? why should human cells not be used for this and what are the alternatives?

Facinating and very enlightening story. It's unfortunate and very unfair that the courts have deemed that removed/discorded cells are not the individual's property, but the cells become the property of whoever removed it to use and sell to others for research. I wonder, who payed who for that court decision/finding. Does this also include sperm cells, eggs cells, and, heaven forbid, embryonic cells, removed for testing? (My, this could be another book) Please note, that prior to any operation one must sign a document acknowledging and giving authorization for testing and distruction of such tissue, in doing so you release rights to it. This is unclear to most people and usually is not a subject of concern prior to surgery, but after this book I am sure people will be more inclined to think about it more and maybe, even as a whole, think about addressing this legally in the future.

The family should be compensated and a good reason for health care for all. You use a black woman to heal a sickness at the time was killing off white people left and right and yes keep it from the family. When you find the vaccine that can help half of todays sick people in 3rd world countries most of them people of color. But yes lets play like race doesn't play apart in this... All for science.... cheerios jack.

But everything can be come a racists story right... all about what side of the fence you are standing on.

Your story is not only educational but very up lifting.I am very pleased that research has come so far. Our whole future depends upon this kind of scientific research.

It's a wonderful research. I really want to have a copy of the book. Is the book out in the market? May I know the title of the book?

oh my GOD

I am sure that this happens all the time. It has helped research but the family that is only in it for the money doesn't deserve any. The husband and daughter should recieve some but probably never will.

I am truly touched by this story! Henrietta should be in science books and children and adults should know her name! She has a place in history and her and her family deserve to be recongonized for the things they were able to achieve by using Henrietta's cells. Its sad to say being an African American woman this is the first I have ever heard of Henrietta and her contribution to histroy but I know it will not be the last! Please continue to educate people.

I feel God used those scientist to discover Hela, and as Jesus played his part on earth, so Henrietha is still playing her's. May God bless her

very interesting story, i will buy the book, but a sad state, that almost everyone with a coment wants to know if they got money! isn't there anything more important than receving money for something? i would hope so.

She's a beautiful lady. I don't understand why her cells were used for so many purposes vs. using fresh cells from different people. Unfortunately, it sounds like some of her ancestors are not the sharpest tools in the shed. I wouldn't be surprised if those children who were uninterested in their mother, until money was involved, wouldn't just squander away whatever they are paid. I'd like to see the daughter get some money because she actually cared about her mother.

I do think the scientist should have asked Henrietta to take her cells, but at the same time she must have been undergoing some kind of procedure that involved removing a sample of the cells. I dont think he bumped into her at the super market and started scratching away at her. At the same time people donate or sell there cells to research all the time and if your cells go up to space or are used in creating a vaccine that ends up selling over $10 billion of vaccinations, I dont feel like anyone owes you a percentage of that. That money should go to further research or to assist in creating and distributing that vaccination so it can benefit everyone. Everyone has cells, its coincidental if yours are used.

it was a great story, a true to life story that what a human can do. in fact this is reality, people with power and brains takes advantage to all un-educated and poor people, they just treat them as not a human being, they dont care anything. all they care about is they're fame, in this book i know many who can read this will absolutely learn that "PEOPLE ARE NOT A GENEA PIG".

yes! its very interesting! as a read it and put my self on one of the characters my feelings is "angry"! i hate those scientists that thinks only their selves. even though she is immortal or have that cancer still she's a human that needs love and live peacefully in this world, they shouldn't treat her like that!if i were one of her daughters i will take the scientists to jail, for what they do to my mother.! they should pay a debt to the prison!!!!!!!!!!

to the scientists:

think of every move you make, it doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want to do in the field of science because you are a scientists. thinks what is the come up and think what somebody thinks of it and anyone feel about it.! think of many times before you do such things.!!!

Truly an excellent article and I will read the book. For the last 30 years, I have known about HeLa cells and their use in science. I am glad now to know more of the story about the donor's life. Does anyone know how to petition the Nobel Committee so that Henrietta Lacks should receive a Post-humous Nobel Peace or Science award? Contact me if you do.

Wow this story realy moved me , an im going to buy the book.

if her cells used to cure people then she is a hero.

I like the story but hard to believe. Anyway the contribution is enormous to our scientific world. Thanks to Henrietta Lacks let the Almighty bless her.

Loved the article. However, there was an underlying tone that disturbed me a bit but I couldn't put my finger on it untill I read a post by "Smith Feb.1,2010/ 12:40 p.m." That is what bothered me, the "label" As you penning this very interesting story, I really am surprised you didn't choose a less demeaning description of Mrs. Lack.

Did anyone else notice that the writing style is kind of juvenile. Sort of like the level of a piece written for the National Inquirer. You know written by a kind of "hack"?

The story is interesting though - just would have been better in someone else's hands.

It merits to ponder.

WHAT AN AMAZING STORY, BUT I FEEL THAT WITH THIS TAKING PLACE IN 1951 THIS DOCTOR WAS HARVESTING THESE CELLS FOR THE FUTURE HEALTH GAINS OF HIS WHITE RACE HE DIDN'T CONSULT WITH HER HUSBAND AND LET HIM KNOW BECAUSE HIS RUSH WAS NOT TO PROLONG HER LIFE OR HER CHILDREN LIFE ,BUT GOD GETS THE GLORY BECAUSE IT HEPLED ALL PEOPLE AND ITS STILL HEPLING IN RESEARCH ,THIS WAS BAD MEDICAL ETHIC BLANE AND SIMPLE AND WITHOUT THE HELA COMPONENT TO THESE VARIOUS RESEACHES THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL SO "COMPENSATE THIS FAMILY THEY COULD HAVE RECIEVED AND EDUCATION AND HAD A BETTER LIFE IF THE RIGHT THING WAS DONE FROM THE START ,ONCE AGAIN IT PROVE THOSE ANCESTORS OF OUR BLACK PEOPLE WERE A STRONG PEOPLE WHOSE BODIES LEARN TO HEAL THY SELF AND STAY STRONG

I was facinated by this story. I feel that if they were my families cells used to "breakthrough" and aid those that are suffering then by all means, do it. I excpect nothing monitarily and hope to save anothers life as payment enough. What our society has become is scarry, you have to be so ridiculously diverse that we can't even find suttle ways to say, do or excpress anything anymore. Just find a cure and those who feel they have something comming to them,earn what you can and be happy with yourself and your achivements alone. Please stand on your own two feet and help the world. Don't excpect the world to help you all the time. I am happy for Mrs. Lacks contribution as I am sure all she would want is to make a difference to save others.
Thank you,
PD

wow! this story is unbelievable..i've never imagined about a person having immortal cells in his body..i'd like to have a copy of this book..really interesting..

its simple amazing and mind boggling story.i appreciate the research work that has been done and salute the gorgeous lady who saved many lives

i am a medical technologist and for the 4 years of being in the school, we just have talked about HeLa cells. and it's my first time to know where the HeLa cells came from and what it really means... it's an amazing article and i hope you can post more articles bout it... GREAT JOB!

This is a wonderful story that shows the impact of an individual and also a black people and their impact on inventions throughout the years, most of which were erased or not mentioned. This is a wonderful story for black history month and a wonderful mysterious scientific adventure for future medical students and class room students whose minds can be probed to investigate why this great woman who have contributed decades of advances to medicine cells did not die.

This is another story about using someone as an experiment . I know that during the 30's , 40's and 50's they used many black people in different experiment like labortory mice to test many different dieases and at what stages bad or good as the susscum to death and if they lived how there lived there lives if the made it to live longer lives.This is very sad and her family should be compisaded for all the good that has come out of this after they grew up without there mother.This is no surprise that this was done without her knowlage becouse they probally made millions sending her cells all over the place. This is clearly a breach between Dr. and pataint and also her constitusional rights. I hope the family and her children sue the snot out of them. God Bless her husband and children and the rest of her desendence.

This is very interesting book...

For century and years, human beings are being used in the lbaoratory without their knowledge. I just hope a proper compensation will be given to her family...

GREAT WORK Rebecca...

Thanks Hela,all children in protection against polio owes it all to you.May your soul rest in peace for a big reward awaits you in heaven.To the scientist behind all these,big ups!The only place you went wrong,not not letting Hela's family members on this one..........but do I say?

It is a true evidence Indeed, and it is a wake up call to those who don't believe The life after death. The mystery of the creation and the beleive of the creator of the universe from Cell to human life. waaw we'll hear more from that perspective theory.

immortal cells its interesting ........ i want know if there is any research going on about this immortal cells......and is there any journal about these cells.....

if the parent have that kind of gene..would it be possible that their children could have it too...would they ???i mean are they..???

So the cells of a woman with cancer were used for vaccins and many other things used to inject in the human body. Am I the only one wondering whether this is why cancer has gotten to epidemic proportions in the western world?

awesome stoery.i am not much into science,but this is very intereting.i would buy the book.

Never too late to learn.Iam a BIOLOGY MAJOR FROM THE LATE 50s-EARLY 60s ATTENDING AN HBCU.THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT INSPIRATION FOR ME.WAS ALSO A POOR TOBACCO FARMER.

..is this for real?!..i was amaze that i didn't hear it until this moment!?..i'm excited on the book..

Very interesting!!.. but how about the family??.
very freakish! yet interesting.. :D

Could someone tell me why her cells are immortal?

Just confirming what the rest of the world already knows. Science is pinioned by a chain of reasoning and that is how it should be, but women hold the secret of life without any training at all!

Great story ever. I'm a pre-medicine student and is so curious about learning the story. Might as well read the book! Cheers!

what could we do to help this family get paid????? Great article and I will definitly by the book because your interest in the story really makes the book worth buying. Please share the proceeds with the daughter at least.

How many of MY cells were used for scientific research and will *I* be compensated? If you compensate one family, you have to compensate them all and not only is that NOT responsible, but it's also not feasible. The identity of the cells wasn't meant to be discovered; thus, their using only the first two letters of her names to identify the cells. As nice as it sounds, it's just not possible to pay the family for her contribution to society. The most they SHOULD hope for, and possibly pursue in her interest, is a medical affirmation in the way of a plague. Or maybe even have a hospital or a research center or something being named after her to immortalize her. You can't pay money for something so monumental! If so, then where do you stop?

Well, thats great.
This is typical of biological work.
Keep on doing experiments using human tissues.However, be very careful because cloning may result into individuals who may have totaly different thoughts from yours and mine, and may end up destroying all of us.Thats vampire like phenomena.Need to do with caution.

Are you going to compensate the family with the earnings of your book? I think it will be fair and good public relations.

this is really amazing how science has been able to freeze tissue cells in an effort to find a cure,for some of these sickness that has occur through the ages.no her family shouldn't be entitle to anything,if it hadn't been for indepth studies and someone trying to find out the real story behind henrietta lack they still wouldn't have known.money can sure change people.they should be glad that whether it seems like it.that was her contribution to society.thank you so much.Mrs.Henrietta Lack

I remembered the story about some cells that found their way into places that they were not suppose to be and that it actually was causing problems for the scientist doing research on cells not pertaining to this woman. I hope they are not using her cells to make any thing that is to go into humans because they are cancer cells. Some cancers are caused by viruses Cervical especially. Maybe the Author of this book would be willing to share a portion of the proceeds to this womans poor family. Making sure that money goes to teaching them all to read.

good!

The family doesn't deserve a payout just because they are dirt poor. It was the scientist that used a biopsied piece of tissue that made it have any value past a piece of trash.
The lottery mentality of our society is sickening. All about money for nothing.

I wonder how much the original doctors were compensated by the family for the medical services for Henrietta? I bet the family didn't pay zip! Opportunists...

aren't all cancer cell lines "immortal"? I mean, take cells from cervical cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer...they are all considered immortal, right? And we can preserve them indefinitely. Why is this a story??

The story didn't fully answer the hanging question of whether it was morally right for Henrietta not to have received recognition or monetary compensation. Maybe the book answers the question in more detail. In fairness to the initial scientists, when Henrietta's cells were taken, I'm sure they weren't readily sold on the black market. The cells were dissected/grown/re-manufactured at great costs and work with more failures chalked up than successes. In the case of HeLa cells, the scientists found a viable cell sample. The question arises whether grown cells are in the same category of cloned cells. When do people lose legal ownership of their biological material? Are current cells significantly different from first generation HeLa cells? Are aborted fetuses considered living tissues or human beings used for stem cell research? As the author states, medical research depend heavily on tissue culture; society in general benefits from the scientific research, even HeLa's descendants.

This is interesting! Though there maybe some human rights violation that happened earlier when Hela cell was taken, it has tremendously helped humans stay alive. But then again, the family deserves to be well compensated... after all it's their mother's.

Taking cells from a tumor without someones "permission"? She gave them "permission" by having them treat her in the first place. Doctors always take samples as a means to treat the patient and to do research for future patients. How many other cells were taken without "permission" from others? likely thousands. Would she have said No if he asked her? I say no!

AWSOME!

Loved this story. I will have to get the book. I think this would make a great Movie! Also, I think her family should receive money from the sale of the book or movie. She was a beautiful lady. Live on cells of Henrietta!

There's a lot of discussion here based on incorrect information. First, an "immortal" cell is not a cell that lives forever, it means that the cell can keep making exact copies of itself if it is in the right environment, such as in a cell culture. This is why cancer is so devastating because it just keeps on reproducing and doesn't stop until the environment is destroyed which is sadly the human body.

Second, while it is clearly wrong that the scientists did not get informed consent from the patient, it was not due to racial issues. In the 1950's informed consent laws simply did not exist - anyone could have been subject to having their tissue sampled irregardless of their ethnicity or economic status. Someone stated that because this women was black, you are only hearing about this now. Have you ever heard of Frances Mallon? She was a woman from which breast cancer cells were taken to create another immortal cell line for science and research. She's white and hardly as well known as Henrietta Lacks.

Third, it is not unethical for the family not to have been compensated. No part of your body, with the exception of blood, semen, egg, and hair, can be paid for otherwise you would create a business of selling body parts. Think about it... it would be even more unethical to be compensated for your tissue because it would create a market that would prey upon the very people that you want to protect: the poor. What kind of society would we be in if a person could sell his arm just to pay his bills?

Finally, while companies have benefited from the use of the cells to create new and more effective drugs for cancer treatment, the cells themselves were never patented and so anyone is free to use them which means that no one has ever made a profit on the selling of these cells.

I know the media needs to make articles interesting to sell them but this kind of journalism just inflames people without giving the full story.

Great story. And, by the way, what a gorgeous woman Henrietta Lacks was. Perhaps beauty is immortal.

What is a shame is how many comments I've read from people thinking that this family should get money from... whom? Should we all give a $1 if we got a polio vaccine? Get real, people. Henrietta's doctor had no idea that his colleague's experiment would lead where it did -- NO ONE could have known that her cells would be able to replicated for decades, nor what experiments would be run with them, nor what the outcomes of those experiments would bring to humanity. It is these researchers, their companies, and the many hours of work done by scientists who rightfully made and deserve to have made the money. Neither Henrietta nor her husband would have understood what "permission" they were giving had they been asked if her cells could be examined. If the experiment had discovered a cure for cervical cancer that saved Henrietta's life, would they have been asking HOW that happened? No, they'd have assumed it was God's will. Well, in the same way it was God's will that her cells were used to help humanity. Her sons and daughter have no claim to make in this scenario. No intentional injustice was done to H. L. or her family. Why is everyone always so quick to want to sue someone? As if every cog in a wheel of discovery should be PAID for it's part! The only people who should be paid are the ones who spent hours in the lab doing experiment after experiment until something useful FINALLY happened... and the companies that then took that discovery to the masses in the form of polio vaccines and other miracle drugs.

Very interesting,I am sorry I can not find this book in Romania.Congratulations to Rebecca Skloot. Even now,the human body is still a mystery!

I think the family must be compensated somehow financially. That would be the right thing to do.

My bad, amazon.com also offers a hardcover version of the book.. It's worth $14.04 as of February 1, 2010 10:22 PM.

So what about the money???? The study of Ms. Lacks' cells has furthered scientific and medical knowledge by leaps and bounds....wouldn't have happened if that doctor hadn't taken a piece of the tumor and given it to a scientist.

And yes, I'm definitely buying the book. I'm interested in Henrietta Lacks' story not just from a medical standpoint but from a sociological one as well.

Henrietta Lacks should be suitably rewarded by scientific community with a memorable prize if not Nobel posthmously.

Scientist playing god how about that. I am interested on reading more about this family and the book. More interested in the family than the cells. If she had cervical cancer back then how come we still don't have a cure for it. Isn't cervical cancer hpv now!

To some of those who say that Henrietta Lack had not done anything significant in her life to deserve compensation, I'd say that you are being at the very least disengenious and at most grievously disrespectful of her special rarity. The way that some of you verbally minimized her unwitting contribution to our quality of life hints at disdain or even hate. Why are some of you trying to reduce her to the value of a lab rat? How would you characterize all of the blue-blooded royalty in europe and for that matter, the obscenely rich children of old american dynasties? As far as I'm concerned, they have not contributed anything unique to our society's enrichment, yet they are not villified as having no intrinsic value. Simply being born into power and money makes you valuable, I guess.
Suppose what would happen if a Vanderbilt or a Rockerfeller was born with such unique cells. Bet your bottom dollar, they and the entire family would be richly compensated and none of you villifiers would object. Their lawyers would make sure that billions of dollars would change hands for the use of those cells!!! We should be thanking Henrietta Lack for the possibility that her cells provided the means for our continued existance. No doctor, researcher or scientist up to that point in time or since that moment was able to keep any other line of cells dividing indefinitely. No one has ever been able to repeat that feat with any other human being. Henrietta never did anything significant in her life? Without this particular woman, the scientists and researchers would have absolutely nothing to help them make the myriad of discoveries, medical breakthroughs, vaccines and cures. Without Henrietta, some of you might not even be alive. Can you, in your strangely myopic way, realize how many people's lives she has saved or enriched?

Why the concern about monitary compensation for the family? They didn't own the tissue. It wasn't willed to them. Diseased tissue, is removed from thousands of people every day, and nobody cares, what happens to it. Some is used for medical reasons and some is thrown out. Its not STOLEN.

From what I've read about Henrietta is she was a generous woman. Her cancer was biopsied and used for later study---as has happened with many other patients who have had abnormal growths, no matter what their race. She was given what was felt the most up to date medical attention at the time...but lets face it, in 1950, cancer was still just about a death sentence. If it couldn't all be removed with surgery, the patient didn't stand a chance. She was not used or misused...she died of cancer and the doctors studied the cells...as they did with many other patients' cells. Hers just happened to have the potential to replicate and survive. I doubt the researchers even knew she was black or even cared. They were simply cells to be studied and their hard work resulted in the medical advances that came of it. Please understand---when the cells were sampled, it was not with the idea that money was going to be made. No one had any inkling that would ever, ever happen.
To the person who asked how Henrietta died--her body was riddled with cancer, with tumors growing everywhere. The cancer destroyed her kidneys and she technically died of uremic poisoning, as a result of the effects of the cancer.
It was very awful and tragic--but some good came of it.

And no, the husband does not deserve any compensation. When you read the book, you'll find he was not a "stellar" guy.

Wow amazing history!

wow! the story is indeed fascinating! i love reading about science and the mysteries it tells. I hope to have acopy of this book, is this available in the Philippines?

I was just wondering if the piece of tissue from her tumor was used would that mean that they were using cancerous cells in all their experiments? Or was it just healthy tissue from her body that was used? Any way this was very interesting.

Very enlightening! If there is money being made in this thing then some should go to that poor family. Have a heart and pay up greedy. Someone help them get a good lawyer!

After reading the comments, I've been amazed how this issued has mutated into money and race. Yes, perhaps there have been miraculous breakthroughs with this HeLa's cells but how many scientists do you know who are actually rich? Very few. And how many people want to cash in on their dead mamas? Very few?

Get it straight. That was then; this is now. Did Henrietta ever pay for her treatment at John Hopkins? Is everybody really sure it was white-as-snow, male researches who so "misrespectfully" took her cells? Scientists just look at the data and the research. Is there any chance these money-grubbing heirs could just be proud of their mom? Probably not if their $$$ involved. Seems like a case of 'I'm going to cash in."
S

very interesting article. I feel pity for her family. The government should help them.

MMMMM... yeah this is ineed insteresting in the fact that I did like hearing what all was done with her cells, I also wonder about compensation for family. But the writing of this article was HORRIBLE!!!! First, everyone knows deseased cancer cells are longer living and have different properties from normal cells they are not immortal. Secondly, if the immortal was refering to their use, ok, but it also sounds like this author is trying to say "she was there for the polo vaccine, she was there for the space experiments, she was there for cloning", she wasn't!!!! This woman had nothing to do with any of those things which other people spent their entire lives, working to do and create. It was her cells thats all. None of her, she provided no imput or work into any of those acheivements.

Black is not only beautiful, it is also amazing!!

What a an amazing story and i was so fervent when i read it and i am still waiting to read the rest of the book.is it aready on sale or not yet? tanx for this amazing true story.

Great story and it definitely has something to do with money HL's family should get some compesantion, if the medical fraternity made money from it why not the family, thumbs up for HL.I would buy the book

EXCELLENT ARTICLE! THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION SHOULD TRULY HELP MOTIVATE MANY INDIVIDUALS TO HAVING FAITH IN DISCOVERING THE SECRETS OF GENITICS AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE!

Money. Money. Money. Unfortunately, that is all some people care about and do evil things. My mom and dad wrote their will, so that their remains would be donated to science. Years later we found out that evil people had sold their body parts on the black market for profit and not for research as intended. We even got money in the collective law suit settlement which we donated to the poor. I am now afraid to donate my body to science, as I had intended before this horrible thing. It's sad that we think all scientists and doctors are good. They are human too and sometimes do bad things.

I found the excerpt to be very interesting and informative. I would be interested in reading the book, if only to validate my theory about the side effects of racism and poverty. The author defends the scientist who took the cells of a poor Black Female without her knowledge as not being racist. Maybe he was or maybe he wasn't, but his actions were; only minorities and the disadvantage are exploited without consent and: the outcome was: a family left in poverty without recourse, while the scientist his colleagues and the university he worked for become wealthy off the live cells of their dead wife and mother. It seems to me if the author was sensitive to the needs of the family instead of the needs of the scientific community, he would have realized something was not right when they continued to change the name of the mother to keep people from learning who she was. But of course that is okay because the Family was Black and poor and would not know what to do with the money if they received any. Only writers and scientist should have money and fame because they know what to do with it. Shame on you and the scientific community who took and is still taking advantage of this Lady and her Family without giving them the notoriety and the wealth that should have come with it. Don't you think that she wanted her Family to live a prosperous life, children growing up in a nice home having the opportunity to go to college and live a successfull life or did you think she was not human enough to have aspirations for her family.

Lee Jenkins

I have donated my body to science eventhough my cremation is pre- paid. whatever can be given or done to help the living after we are gone should be payment enough. Too many people die and waste so much that can continue living in the living. Such greed. Wish there were a law that d required the recycling of us all. Just knowing that we are contributing to humanity would probably propel our spirit to a good place.

Wow! This definately caught my interest. I'm putting this in my list of books to buy.

This is an mazing story. Is the book available in Kenya? It is a must read piece. Congratulations to the writer.

Alloys Omolo
Food for the Hungry Association, Pemba Mozambique

I just checked on amazon.com and it said that "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" will be available in KINDLE edition tomorrow, February 2, 2010. How about the hardcopy (paperback/hardback cover)?

The article written here made the book sound very interesting. It sounds like one of those books you read, and all of a sudden makes you think about Humanity (human-nature: selfishness, care for mankind, greed, success, triumph, etc.). I am so looking forward in reading this book... I'm hoping the book actually lives up my great expectations... =)

Thank you so much Sarah, for opening up my eyes to such a provactive story. This is truly an exceptional biography that seems to be long overdue in informing today's society of the intruencies of medicine from back when.

I look forward to the reading of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lack", and I will definitely have my eyes open for this one!

Best Regards,

The cancer's cells usually are growing and never dying, that know the doctors.

"The people behind those samples often have their own thoughts and feelings about what should happen to their tissues, but they’re usually left out of the equation." This is not true anymore. At least, it is against federal law to do that.

"They knew that they could get away from "stealing her cells" because she was black. Back in the 1950s something like this was just swept under the rug; no one would have ever believe that a black woman cells could have a major impact in medicine several years later. The scientists should have at least consulted with the family, informing them that we took some of your family's cells."???

Back then, it was typical to take samples to try and grow anything. It didn't matter who it was from. And yes, there has been experimentation on prisoners, soldiers, and orphans in the past. If you want to read what the rules and regulations say now - see the Office of Human Research Protections in the Dept of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov/ohrp/. It will describe all of the legislation that is now in effect as well as document the history leading up to the development of these protections.

It indeed is unethical in this day and age to take anything from a person (volunteer, patient, subject) without their consent - even their answers to questions for research purposes. That is what institutional review boards are for. This is nothing new - sounds like the author isn't really familiar with some of what she is writing about. Or at least, the article suggests this is some plot scientists and researchers have to steal peoples body parts for the sake of science. It is not true.

Truly a very inspiring story which really moves me.. it is as if she becomes an immortal contribution to scientific breakthroughs. i hope her essence would be given credit by even giving her family a decent way of living as a form of gratitude to that contribution.

WoW!! Wonderful!! Proof...that when God created humans..it was meant to be forever, because our cells DON'T DIE.
one more vindication for true Christianity. Thanks a mill...

Well you have to understand that man was originally created to live forever... and sense we know that genes are passed down through generations, it stands to reason that some of thous original cells would be passed down as well. Believe what you want but the facts are facts.

This is a good story to start the day. Hela cells helps as a lot but also because of the genius scientist, but giving a little to the family of Hela is much better. This cell is important so better think for the family for further help in the near future.

I find seveal points to be the essence of the article.
1. Defintely don't see the racial point of the donation as an issue. Seems to be one for those that don't grasp the true impact of her contribution. Don't understand the importance of the race card being played other than for entiltlemnet issues.
2. Most scientific discoveries are serendipidous. They didn't know what the outcome woud be, they could only speculate that this could have some scientific benefit because of her medial history, and their speculation proved to be correct.
3. HIPPA laws as we know them today were non-existent then.I don't see premeditated greed in here as much as others claim. I see forethought on the part of the researchers.
4. If the family is compensated, the funds like a scholarship should have guidlines as to how they are used.
5. What about the Jews in WWII- there were innumberable medical experiments taking place, and much was gained on many levels.
6. what about persons who donate their bodies to science. Are their families compensated for any future findings that may benefit mankind?
7. Truly, through accident or serendipity, this lady ended up having some genetic outcomes that benefited mankind. I think that in our current age, if we need to include compensation in the research paradigm, it should be spelled out ahead of time. One idea or finding will usually stimulate the mind or research protocals for others, which can lead to greater benefits that were not originally targeted. If a person agrees to participate in a research study, and need compensation, spell it out in the beginning, and let the outcome find its own reward. I think most people can find value in altruism. That human element exists in all of us regardless of our educational level. It just isn't always expressed.

this story is like the story from filipino teleserye,toni gonzaga is the artist......i think they got the story of that women...

I unlike most look passed the color issue that I see many have turned your story into. I think you have an amazing way to catch the reader, leaving the reader wanting more. I like the part about hoew you said her daughter never met her mother, but I must contridict that because she has met her mother in a way that most never get to experience. She may never have seen her face, but has seen the effects of her life and the gift of life her cells have given to many people. Thank you for giving me the chance to learn about another amazing person in history. And to te rest of the commenters on here who cares if she was black, white, yellow, or polka dot she was an angel who gave the gift of life to many.

Scient is objective not subjective the problems begings when we mixt them,but if every body do what is RIGHT the problem wouldn't exist;however we have to realize that this is the nature of our human being.CONGRATULATIONS to have the courage to publicate this story HURRAAAA for the TRUTH & SCIENT :sooner or later the truth will prevail.Please let me know how can I get this book.

wow, I have heard about the Hela cell line, But i did not know it had a very interesting story behind it.

At the time the cells were taken there were no laws about informing patients. And they are not the original cells. The production of those cells was paid for by the scientists, not her family. If you buy a horse from someone, are it's foals yours or the original owners?

This was a great story. I mean I kind of feel bad for the family in a sense because they could have used some of that money. I am amazed though, the nature of science and how it can truly impact life. Reading this let's me know that we are all human and in that we could all have some kind of impact on each other. Such a great story to start off February. Thanks!!!!!

Cool Story,I like it

I agree that the family of Henrietta should benefits from the profits made from the cells.. . .very interesting discovery. . .

I am amazed at the people who are saying that the family should have been compensated and are making this about race. No one at the time knew that these cells were special. Had they asked Henrietta they maybe would have paid her a few dollars at the time and that would have been it. The money that is made off these cells now is from the work of scientists who are growing the cells. The fact that this woman's cells have had such a great affect on science should thrill her family, not make them greedy. I think this is an interesting story but I can't see why her family should be compensated for some microscopic cells taken from their mother. Be glad that your mother's life had true meaning and quit trying to sully it with money grubbing. Many "poor" people find a way out of poverty through hard work and education - maybe this family should have tried that before moaning about a few cells that someone else did a lot of work with.

This is one of the GODs miracle.

woow!what an interesting article.Good job.I can't wait 2 have the book.The family of this"great hero" need to be celebrated.

THE FAMILY SHOULD GET MILLIONIONS AND MILLIONS OF MONEY.
ITS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM HUMAN BODY WITHOUT CONSENT!!!! FAMILY SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY THE STATE!!!!!!

u cant tell me that if someone had take ur mother cell and made a billion dollars off them u wouldnt want to be pay u sitting that lie ,and criticise the family u must be white because when it come down to compensating black people for they trouble u people cannot stand it im not racist or anything ,but its make me sick to hear someone like u talk about welfair and the people on it.eveing if we had good job u would have something to say.

I took the time to read this artical and all the comments that followed. It still amazes me and makes me ashamed that there are those still out there that feel the need to make this a race issue. The world is not perfect and we still have a long ways to go. But with this kind of attitude we are not moving forward. This is a great and exciting step for all. And to make this into something other than recongnizing and remembering Hennrieta for her contribution and what she has done for all of us is just shamefull. We owe this women so much! Please don't belittle this womens accoplishments by turning this into something ugly. It's easy to find the bad in something but this is not what this is about! Let's all be glad that this is coming out to be recognized and how we can honor Hennrieta for her special contributions that she has made for all of us. A name to be sure that will go in history books to liveforever like her cells.

It is a hard job but it is fantastic that took almost a year even to convince Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah, to talk to you

Great article! I love history and especially African American history. My interest has been peaked and I will buy this book. Thank you for sharing.
dyah

People! These cells are the descendents of cancer cells that were taken from her tumour. They are "immortal" in the sense that they can divide indefinitely in a culture as long as conditions for cellular life are met. The individual cells aren't immortal; the author ought to have clarified that bit in the article.

So this would mean sometime in the future we will be able to live longer than the oldest person on earth. If a cell can live that long then a human can too. If they can find out how to do it that is. Crazy. Clones and then living forever. We are not GODS...

Cells are taken every day and sent to a lab so that there can be a cure found for what ails us. In turn we are healed and then maybe someone else can live because of us. Is this our way of life now, give us money, or is it give us life. But then again, some of us want compensation for living not realizing that God gave his Son Jesus Christ freely so that we may life. Just who do we owe?

Ok, so the doctors stole the cells, thats unethical. On top of that how much money has been made off of this woman?

What if someone stole your cells and cloned pieces of you?

I was amazed to see all of the comments.. and that so many people were touched in some way by the story. What an enchanting story.. Also, this is such a hot biomedical ethics issue that will stir a lot of passion. I noticed that people are using today's thoughts and standards to respond so a situation that happened when laws, science, and knowledge were so different. That is very difficult to reconcile in my (our) minds. Seems there is unfairness in many ways; yet so much good came of the research. I will stay enchanted and look forward to the book and I agree, a movie could be next...

What an awesome discovery of the contribution (although unwittlingly) by a BLACK WOMAN...

Thank you for being so persistent in your research and in writing this story....

Another star that help me shine with pride. More confirmation of being a part of a special people..

Dolores

I am moved to tears by this story. I cannot wait to read this book. What an amazing story!

This is a facinating story. Only in America would the racial card be played. You can't apply current political standards in retrospect. In 1950 the whole question of ethical tissue sample removal had not even been raised. Doctors were taking samples from anyone and everyone, depending on their area of interest and work. The patient never missed the tissue. In the normal course of time, that tissue would have been died and been renewed within the persons body if they were alive and if deceased, it would have simple died. It would not even have occured to the doctor to ask permission to take a tissue sample. He wouldn't have asked had she been white, male or any other.

This issue is detracting from the real story. How this woman's tissue has made our lives better. The tremendous impact the work done with her tissue has had on medicine. The marvel of how her minor contribution of a few tissue samples continues to enlighten and enrich our understanding of the complex and wonderful human body.

Thank you Henrietta Lacks.

Great "True Story", but remember the medical field is also about business; this was no mistake; those Scientist knew what they were doing. "Good Science"; I don't think so.

I am not surprised. I wonder who will ever admit that AIDS is a laboratory mistake that occurred when pharmaceutical companies used monkey plasma (which was later called "contaminated" plasma) replaced human plasma to manufactured polio vaccines. Of course Africa was "vaccinated" extensively with this in the 50's, which seems to correlate with the epidemic present today. Can you imagine the liability involved? Did manufacturing co disclose that monkey plasma had replaced human plasma in their vaccinations? Were their any concerns? Were they over looked? The need/desire to cure and the need/desire to secure equity is deep. I think the story is beautiful. Thanks Mrs. Lacks!

Great story! Hopefully the extended family can find solace in the fact that this normal every day lady who's life was tragically cut short has, and continues to do great things for the human race. Her legacy lives on. What a gift to all!
Thank you

Yeah, I got to know some new knowledge. As a Agriculture student I knew that we do plant tissue culture, bu I didn't worry much about animal cell cultures. Now I am curious about this subject.

PLEASE, can anyone tell me are HELA cells the only kind of animal cells using in tissue(or cell) culture. Still didn't is possible to produce any kind of living cell culture by any other human ???

I think as humans ALL OF US MUST show our greatest gratitude to Henrietta Lacks, as she has done a huge service even without knowing, for the good health of man kind

Those scientists are greedy and heartless. How can they enjoy that money alone while the family was in poverty.

I see there must be a reason for everything we do.. amazing.....interesting to know deep inside ..cells that continously alive... no compensation...??????????

God Bless you Rebecca and the family of Mrs.Lacks,your determination to find the truth is awesome!!!!I hope the family will benefit from this some way.

What an insult to not just Black persons, but to women!!

The author has watered down what Mrs Lacks went through, and what her children must go through now.

This is cut from the same cloth as what was done to the 399 Black men aka 'The Tuskegee Syphillis Experiments'.

Hopefully Mrs Lacks' family will be able to get at least a monetary settlement.

Since these cultures/tests were done after World War II, does this not fly in the face of the laws set down during the Nuremburg trials? I wonder if our champion journalist Ms. Skloot makes mention of this in her book/research?

This is crazy.. I want to read this book..

I think it is agreat development for science

did the family ever get any compensation, from the research, from this book??...and to Heaterman posted Feb 1 no we are all NOT just animals...

WHOA! THATS THE WONDER OF SCIENCE,AMAZING PIECE OF SCIENTIFIC FACT, DEAR LORD, JUSTIFY THESE WORK.

is the girl who have the immortal cells still alive? will she never die? hmmpppp. i feel so curious. everything that has a life will soon be die.

Yes, the family should get some compensation.

Very interesting story.

As someone who has been through ivf a few times and have children from it, it's interesting to wonder about cellular memory, cellular knowledge, even if diseased.

There is clear evidence that the family has to be compensated asap. If it was a white person's cells, no one would have thought twice about getting back to the POOR BLACK FAMILY a life to remember their loved one with, rather than reducing the relatives to samples of a laboratory.

wow, that was so fascinating and very intriguing!..it makes me want to purchase the book... :)
i just love it...

Wow this is very interesting! Great job of tracing the real donor.

As usual the black men (her sons)have to be displayed as the evil ones, out for only money. Well I will speak out and say it's usually the other way around and this you can tell is by some chicks writting about a chick."well the daughter is trying to find history and the sons, they're just after money.) Please stop being bigots at least for the poor mothers sake. If you can't say something good about aome one then take the rest and shove it up your but author.
And of course god bless the true america.

this study will surely contribute a lot in science and medicine. i hope the authority will protect and will use it for the development of our planet.

To the comments by Colleen regarding the cells not being immortal and that "everything that lives dies"; the phrase "immortalized" is specific to cell culture and more so to cancer or carcinoma-hybrid cells. As Henrieta suffered from cervical cancer, these cells grow as any cancerous cells would; They continue to proliferate without ever stopping. So long as these cells are passaged (harvested from culture flasks and re-seeded) or cryogenically frozen for storage (i.e. on liquid nitrogen)they will continue to grow on passage-after-passage; generation-after-generation.

Everyone here would want to be compensated if this were their Mother. Not because of greed, but because it is fair. All of you who are trying to be noble and righteous should think twice before judging the sons for wanting what is rightfully theirs whether they worked hard for it or not,surely the wealth that most rich people enjoy was not won by the hard works of their own hands. As to the people who say that it was not their's to profit from and that they are greedy for money that other's worked hard for. Henrietta's cells were a gift from the creator and belonged to Henrietta and now via inheritance belong to her family. It is the same as you who are casting the stones are planning to leave your children your inheritance for which they did not work for...what's the difference? Henrietta had no idea they would be selling them and if she had known that there would be profit made, I am sure that sharing them with her family would have been part of the deal AND if she had neglected to make those arrangements,you who judge her family would have called her ignorant. And last,if there should be no compensation to the family because they should just be proud that it has helped many people, then shouldn't those who sold her cells have given of themselves just as freely and proudly? Someone will be getting paid for as long as Henrietta's cells live...over and over again, how noble is that? Money is the source neccessary to purchase what is needed for survival therefore it helps the human race just as the cells. Those cells represent fame and wealth for a lot of Scientist who do what they do with them and they should not be getting rich off what belongs to other people, thatwould be classified as Greed! WE ARE ALL THE SAME AND NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY TO PROVE ONE MORE WORTHY THAN THE OTHER, IT WILL NEVER BE...WE ARE ALL WORTHY OF THE TRUTH!

wow!!
thats an amazing piece of work..when i was studying tissue culture i was also intrigued by the HeLa cells..researched some but couldn't find one.
u have done an excellent job..your book is a must read..congrts

it goes to show you what are medical and pharma industry really thinks of us all. the yanomami are still fighting for their blood back that was taken from them. stealing is stealing. science is good so long as respect for the living subject be it a person, an animal or a cell comes first.

One of the things that people seem to be overlooking in this amazing story is that, given the geographic location, education, race, and socioeconomic status of the family, it is HIGHLY likely that they were/are extremely religious and would have thought the research to be immoral, ESPECIALLY in the 1950s. Also taking into account the family's mental/emotional state upon learning that their wife/mother had cancer, if they or Mrs. Lacks HAD been asked permission to use the cells, the answer likely would have been "No," and none of the advances we have made as a result of her cell line would exist. Keeping this in mind, some compensation is only just.

Further, race was not likely the impetus for the doctor's and scientists' behaviors. But anyone who thinks that race wasn't at all a factor in this scenario (again, especially given the year and geographic location) is either extremely naive or willfully ignorant.

Thanks for this incredible history lesson. Stories like these help to reframe the conversation surrounding scientific ethics and remind us that there is a history (or in this case, herstory) behind every advance that we make in our quest to improve the human condition.

were her kids ever tested? do they have the same cells? Did anyone ever consider that she may be a decendant of some sort of religious icon?

very interesting...well written.

this story tell us that science is sometimes Good and sometimes bad but why science did not noticed? that the human biology is not really good? how come that they became Evil and involving many lives that innocent stop searching for pleasure!

I'm curious as to why the doctor who extracted her tissue sample in the first place even decided to do it. Did he notice something different about her right away? Does this trait exist in other african americans?

This was such an amazing and touching story or rather factlines. They bring out HELa's cell so perfectly that u feel you understand every detail of science much as some of us are arts people. But really her family sh'd have been compensated on behalf of Henrietta Lack since her cells were taken without her knowledge and approval which was so cruel and mean of them really (those so scientists). But all in all her story is inspiring to the soul to know that HeLa cells are immortal.

Was just wondering if this book is already down here in Uganda coz i would love to buy and read every bit of it.

Where can i buy a copy of this book here in the philippines?

Wow... amazing... immortal cells... this article was truely interesting... sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie.

well, the medical world has employed gene patenting (which has been around for many years). donors are out of the money line. that's how it goes.

Fascinating! I'm amazed at all the responses here. Would like to read it as well. I have had african american kids as well as those born here of african immigrants in my piano studio for over 7 years. They have always been very respectful and hard working. They come from real nice families as well. As a young person in the military, I met all kinds of people and found many african americans to be quite the same. It's a SHAME that we are so color blind that we cannot see the good in those around us. It is my hope that more people will open their eyes to those around us everyday and pay attention to what is really important...a person's CHARACTER not their skin color!

I suppose the family would be entitled to some compensation, however, Lets deduct from that all the hours of research, flight costs, transfer costs, Medical costs involved with this research. Why is everyone so worried about money ?? For the Love of God ! If this Womans cells can save lives, isnt that compensation enuff ?

interesting story, is the book available in South Africa too, coz its a "must read!!!"...please let me know..

Without a doubt this is just another piece of American History untold because it does elavate the African American to a form of revelance. Thank you for telling the story. If it were not for researchers like yourself and Carter G Woodson, the African American history would stay hidden in Labs.

Where can I donate my own cells?
It does seem that in it's way it IS immortality. Though the whole body may pass, those cells ARE immortal and can be a hope for the future!

A good one for history in the black month.

I find it very interesting hardly anyone touched on the most important word in this wonderful piece, that is the word IMMORTAL. This is HUGE people, and please don't think for one moment the government or the elitist few haven't already known this information, it makes perfect sense they knew this information all along why else would there be so much focus on killing people of color..(racism) (slavery)......HMMMMM? It could very well be that this woman's genetic lineage is an open door to an end to disease, and possibly life extension for the human race. The government knows way more then what we've been told, and soon, this will be one of many 'FINDINGS" to help prepare humanity as a whole for the spiritual revolution that is and will be taking place on a massive level. ....they know that the gig is up that way too many people know what's really going on, so their disclosing information in dribs and drabs..... My eyes and heart are wide open. Real Eyes Realize Real Lies. Thanks for a great story! Namaste, Elaina

Extremely interesting. Maybe now we can hope to have some great discovery to stop all the useless deaths from cancer. To my knowledge,there hasn't been any great outstanding finds to stop this deadly disease.
INSULIN was discovered years ago, plus a cure for polio, and numerous other diseases cured. Very little money was available and they didn't have very many instruments for their usage, Now they have every type of machine, laboratories and thousands of scientists, working around the clock. Billions and billions of dollars, are spent on research, but still nothing. There must be some way of stopping this disease, but I am afraid, we are not being told the truth, as to how to stop this disgusting, deadly disease. Where is all the money going for all the extensive research??? THINK ABOUT ALL THE FUND RAISING that happens.
WHERE IS THE MONEY REALLY GOING??

What a shame the brothers had No interest in thier mother till they found out there was money involved. All of you who wrote in,JUST INTERESTED IN THE LOOT SHOULD BE ASSHAMED. When I here things like that I am truly asshamed to say YOU are from the same country as me. This poor young woman who died so young, probably saved you from POLIO & maybe other diseases and ALL you are interseted in is what you can hold in your hand. How terribly selfish. Don't you realize that's why this country is in such a mess? So many PEOPLE SITTING AROUND w/THEIR HANDS OUT, INSTEAD OF THEIR HEARTS WANTING TO HELP SOMEONE?

Realy amazing story thanks to the writer

This is astounding. Why is this not common knowledge among even low-level science students? "HeLa" should be a household term!

Very good read. I definitely agree that the family should have been asked about donation before the cells were taken, but I disagree that the family is entitled to money. I agree with Jeanettes comment about the use of cancerous cells in vaccines. Who is to say that these cells wont produce cancerous cells in whatever research they are used in. I also think its naive to think that doctors and hospitals always inform a patient as to what is done with what they remove from your body.

from what I gather I am inclined to believe that since the culture was used without consent that they hid the fact../.they should receive a strong compensation...especially since it has helped many fortune 500 companies this America and it helped many American's especially from being infected with polio... don't forget how many people died or were paralyzed from that disease alone !!!

This is a very interesting aspect in science. Awesome. This is really for the good of mankind. But I am just afraid one day somebody makes a clone of Henrietta. What happens next? I am scared.

A nice story. So many incredible things are discovered accidentally. I see so many thing here:brilliant minds, ethical problem, life desparity...

Regardless of the outcome, Henrietta was robbed of her cells without her or her family's consent. I highly doubt that they only became interested when they thought of the monetary aspect. It's obvious that Henrietta's husband was taken advantage of since it was made clear that he lacked understanding of the situation and only had a 3rd grad education. I see nothing wrong with the family wanting compensation-they deserve it.

While reading the article,i just couldn't figure out if the story's ending is positive and can contribute goodness to humanity and glory to our Creator. The story is interesting because of the word "immortality" of a cells that has a cancerous disease. And as a Christian, everything that's going on in science world is still related God's Creation and Masterpiece. I can only conclude that it takes immortality to know the purpose of everything we discover.

Can she be brought back to life some way(jurasic park)

This is a very interesting investagative story. It is also a classic example of how the medical industry enriches some at the expense of uninformed, not necessarily poor and black, althtough Henrietta was both, citizens. Researchers steal your cells and probably mine, patent the lines and compensate no one but themselves. What do you think happens to all that unused medical waste from our medical tests???

Well very interesting indeed! The Scientist didn't need to get permission to get the small tissue from Henriata anyway. Think of her refusing to give out that tissue, would have meant the strides that have been made in medical science could not have been realised instead. Yes it had to be from a black person after all many medical researches are conducted on what is perceived as less human by the white race for their benefits. God is great because the wisdom of a human being is foolishness. We thank God that the storry has been told about this heroin lady.

How could this not be racist? Think of the syphilis testing on African American men...this is a common occurrence...It is apparent that her family should have notified of such discovery...her life was just important as anyone else. If her cells were that remarkable, then credit should be, and should have been rewarded where due. Thanks for submitting this story!

interesting article that proves what the bible says that humans were created to live forever but men has dominated men to his injury.Nice piece but, is it me or is everyone ignoring the fact that these ppl stole an unknowing womans body part without her concernt and are now trying to benefit? i wonder whose going to pay for that i bet they all think its of no imprtance anymore THE DOCTOR DID STEAL there is no other way to explain his behaviour...he shouldnt be awarded anythig for this find

REALLLYY GOOD STORY ABOUT HER AND THE CELL,BUT THE DOCTERS SHOULD TELL THE FAMILY WHAT THEY REALLY WANT THE CELL FROM THE FAMILY.REALLY REALLY GOOD

would love to get this book, I can see how much we can learn from it. not a science person, but the story behind makes it more attractive.. where do we get it?

nice work

Let's keep it real. Greedy white men have brought this country to it's knees. But some of you don't want to see that poor black family receive a penny for the unauthorized use of their mother's body. The world is again asking, are most americans depraved hypocrites. Thanks for a real history lesson for a change.

This will be a very good book to read, I enjoy reading about peoples lives, how we become individual's of life. Thank you for focusing on what makes us people and not forgetting the people like Henrietta and her family.

I can only hope to impact peoples lives like she is doing.

Lisa

well scientists are also great creation of God. No matter how great are their works there is always an ULTIMATE SOURCE of all these. God creative work is on the process.

In response to TM: The article is interesting but it makes me ask, are most people's cells so-called "immortal" and her cells were only available to science because they were taken without consent? ...or was it because it the cells were cancerous?

Cell lines can be very difficult to grow. As we know now, different additives, food, antibiotics, and such can be added to the liquid the cells are grown in to help with it. As such, many different types of cells can be grown.

The benefit of having a 'cancerous' cell line is twofold: (1) the cells grow faster, meaning you can do more research in less time (some cells will double in amount each day, others take much longer ... and you will need a certain quantity of cells to produce an appropriate response.) (2) if you are looking into drug research on a certain tumor, say for ovarian cancer, you will want to find a cell type that can potentially relate what you see in the 'plate' to what can occur in a human body.

Normally diseased organs are incinerated or tossed away.
What a great tribute to this young lady .... hopefully a cure was found for the cancer in her ovarian cells. Great story.

THE MAKINGS OF A WONDERFUL MOVIE.

Interesting article for me it enforced my thinking about the big differences in the way of thinking between both sexes, the daughter search for more information about her mothers while the sons' argument is to gain money! Husnia from Yemen

Those are cancer cell they saved. Thats why they are still living ???

Wow!!! This is a great story. I would love to read the book with my family.

I, too, love this story. My mother died when she was twenty-six years old with cancer. I, myself was five years old. How I wish I could have known my mother. How many other human beings, have these "Immortal cells?." I will certainly find this book, soon.

HeLa cells are amazing!! What is equally amazing is how much these cells have contributed to the advancement of science. Cloning, Polio vaccine, its astonishing how efficient these human cells are. It only reflects God's perfect creation. Gods ability surpasses all of sciences greatest efforts.

nothing much different from the story of erythromycin. where the "real" man-behind-the-curtain was put out of the limelight, uncredited and penniless.

i don't care for the way this article was finished. just dues are just dues. racial or not the big story is not the science however interesting and essential for what we've accomplished today. How dare you sell a part of someone duplicate and culture it without permission [microscopic or not]. the author just seems to be so thrilled with innovation. intriguing yet im turned off by final line of this article. grrrrr

nice piece!!a very interesting topic..got pity to the family but was awed by their strength and courage to fight for what is theirs...tissue culture is a very important topic and issue of today!

wonderful story..this is yet another example of how Black people(and I am proud to say my people)have contributed so much to the world and in this case the lady never even got a chance to benefit from her contribution...(she didn't even know she was contributing) Kind if sad, isn't it?..I truly hope her family will some how be able to understand how important this is..GOD BLESS THEM

Aa hah! Some good points for citation.

nice work

My cells are for sale ! Need to provide me family a home before phasing out.

Amazing story. SOMEBODY has made money from this woman's cells. And somebody, including this journalist, will CONTINUE to make money. I hope the family gets all they can get. It's not 'just cells'. That's part of a human being.

Isn't this just one of countless examples of how bigtimers steal from little people and kept it secret so that they can keep on doing it over and over again?

It took more than 10 years for millions of ordinary people in the world to find out the hard way how Wall Street bigtimers took people's life savings for a song by cooking up all kinds of legitimate ponzi scheme wrapped up in fancy names such as "trust funds" and et al. The Biotech bigtimers are even more savy with the secrets of Hela cells because it took more than 50 years for anyone including surviving members of the unsuspecting donor to find out the truth.

Welcome to the hard reality of business as usual.

Amazing story! Has my curiosity peaked, and I will be getting the book, even though I am not one to read often. This will be my first book purchased that is not school required.

Very interesting article. My Genomics teacher told my class about it today. To the one poster, it's true that everything that lives dies, but these are CANCER cells. Cancer is uncontrolled proliferation of cells due to certain mutations. As long as they have a source of nutrients, they will theoretically divide FOREVER. I'm not saying that the family should make money for everytime her cells were/are used, but they deserve something since the sample was taken without consent. These will probably be the cells used when a cure for cancer is finally found. I love science! :)

Great revelation, I hope that this book will get to African Schools. Please let me know how to get this book or ccan I download it via the internet? The family should be rewarded. Once again, Great Reveelation.

This is a very interesting story... however the family NEEDS to be compensated!
While this occurred several years ago, without Henrietta's knowledge...that would be a multi-million dollar lawsuit these days. The HeLA cells have done amazing things for the progression of science. But "science" is a MAJOR money maker. Yes good for humanity... but let us not be naive... several white men profited from this women's cells....for decades!

We know that race is in fact not biological, but socially constructed.

I hardly think a cancer diseased ovary would need permission from its previous owner, so that science can progress on said cells from diseased ovary.

I would be delighted if my Mom or Sister or Relative had living cells to celebrate Medical research, etc.

I would not want, nor would I expect payment. Medical Research is VERY expensive and I would want to know any funds were spent on RESEARCH. WHAT A LIVING TRIBUTE TO THIS WONDERFUL LADY AND HER LIFE.

Facinating story. The implication is that the individual has legal rights to their own cells and any benefits derived from those cells.

Those interested in the legal and ethical aspects of this concept should take a look into the Human Genome Project and the subject of Patenting DNA Sequences.

The question at the heart of this controversy is "should a group be able to patent a DNA squence?" (the NIH began applying for patents in 1991). All medical benefits, commercialization of biomedical research, and genetic therapies derived from these sequences could then be held by limited groups of people. Basically you could have a cure for a genetic disorder with only a single company having the legal right to produce the cure.

thank you for the interesting article. I hope the family will receive some money for the contribution H.L has made to science and mankind!

This is absolutely ridiculous. The doctor took her cells without her knowing! Major injustice. Black people probably have immortal cells different from other races. The family has received nothing for this injustice. Shame on anyone involved in this and made money off of it!

simply amazing....

weird stuff.. but temptation is there to find and buy this book..

This story is very educative to us the young people, it gives us a pratical understanding of science and what comflicts those vested with the responsibility of carrying out researches can cause if they are no guiding policies in the way they operate on human science. i would be glad to purchase the book in which books store in southern African countries like Zambia can the book be found. And to the writer, i say congrates for the passion that you never lost from the age of 16 years u where still focused on the goal u wanted to achieve personally you are an inspiration to me God bless you.

Well, when the descendants of the tribe that sold Manhattan Island for a handful of beads get compensated...yeah, then we can deal with this issue with no problems. Seriously, if you're going to force "race" into this literally awesome story, why not go all the way back?

Where did anyone get the idea this book is about race? If that's what you get out of this, you need to work on your reading comprehension skills. Until we absolutely refuse to notice (or at least mention) a person's race, sex, age, whatever, we are ALL doing our part to keep discrimination alive and well in the good old U S of A.

This was a very interesting read...I liked it and it taught me something I never knew. Heck, if my cells will help save lives or invent medicines to help people than I'll vonteer some cells. At least maybe someone will remember me for something I did positive and good in life. And back then it could've been whire scientist using a black lady to expeiriment but maybe she got the last laugh by becoming such a huge diffence to all mankind. :)
PS....Now I have heard and know what Hela cells are and where they came from. Thanks for the lesson:)
Anthony

Awesome. This has opened my mind more and I wonder how many more in vitro fertilizations were administered without family permission...??? Science and doctors are to blame or praise whichever the situatin outcome. But remember something created the cell first. Thank you very much. Life goes on. Praise God.

On the issue of compensation, in today's world, asking a patient for a sample of cells for 'research purposes' involves a full disclosure statement informing the patient that these cells of the tumor they are donating will be immortalized and sold for research purposes. There is no compensation.

This policy developed over time due to situations like these. The scientist who did this was not malicious in his actions - he was driven by seeing a new type of tumor (perhaps one that was aggressive in growth) that could lead to a stable cell culture line for research .. not monetary greed. The money made from the sale of cell lines isn't great. There is a lot of money used to feed the growth, storage, and testing of the lines to ensure they are clean and non-contaminated with growth from other cell lines, which is extremely important when you do research.

Knowing what is known now about the link between cervical cancer and the human papailloma virus.......did this virus cause her cervical cancer?

interesting...

Very interesting, I enjoyed you being involved in this. The family needed to know about their loved one. This is amazing story, I just love this kind of stuff. I would like to read the book. Well hope Henerita family gets some kind of resolvement and her daughter can learn more about her mother. Thank you for your efforts and sharing this with everyone, that's wonderful. But I do believe she should have known about what they did at the time. That would have been only right, no matter what race or sex you are everything the doctors do should be explained exactly how and what has been done to you. God Bless her family!

I wonder where her ancestors came from. Do her offspring share this trait? There is so much to be learned here. This is so important today with all our medical and scientific advances. What could a new sample unlock? Seems to me that this woman deserves a greater place in history. I hope she gets it.

" Everything is all possible to GOD ALMIGHTY WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH. THEREFORE, THIS IS GOD'S WAY. Thank you Lord for this master peace of yours as an instrument, (HeLa's body) Im pretty sure she's in Heaven now. Who knows, that cells might save my brother before, that he almost get a folio problems. I really don't know, but, I beleive in God's Miracles. Thank you for sharing this...if i see the book, definitely i would buy the book, hope i can afford. God Bless You Henrietta!

Wow! That book gave me a curiosity feeling of some sort. I'm buying that book.

Considering what was written, more than likely biologists today have already cloned these cells. Also, this is all that we will ever know. If something to this extent was released, this would cause drug affiliated companies who survive off of many defects or ill people to close as a result of people being cured. Today, one can believe that there are many cures. However, kept away in secrecy. If a drug that can cure people be released, this economy would suffer even further than it has. Therefore, this amazing story and discovery will die in vein along with Henrietta Lacks.

I hope everyone gets what they deserve. In the realm of humanity this will benefit all of us for generations to come. I hope everyone can see this, and not make it anything more than the miracle it is. Thanks for turning me on to this RQ. Love ya, rich

What is wrong with you people. Is the only thing u can think about is to sue. Get a life. This woman was wronged and thats too bad but in my mind she is a hero

This woman as miraculous as she may be... still needs to be protected and respected not as a scientific experiment... more as the human being that GOD created. Her family has rights in her behalf. Monintary? So be it. She needs to have her say... and that would be through her family!! They need to be compensated for all the good their MOM did without permission. Everyone knows that you (scientists) proceeded with your own needs and did not consider hers. I appreciate all that was learned for mankind.... Now compensate HER (her family)for what you used and learned.

Fair Is Fair.....
Be Honest and Do the RIGHT THING....
The Family needs to be Compensated!!!!

Always True diannagacik@bex.net
DiAnna

yep its great story.....wish thy culd 've told the woman she deservd to knw...thank u!!!

Awesome story.....I too have heard of HeLa cells but did not realize the possiblities....I too believe the family should be compensated, especially if the lab that provides the HeLa cells to others is making a profit.

Unfortunately, all too often people become heroes after they die. Sometimes they remain silent heroes. Luckily, her family was made aware while they were still alive. Maybe, they can be at peace with that eventually. By the way, I enjoyed the article; It was refreshing.

it is so amazing i just read another book where i found out about this story, i was wondering where i can learn more, and here it is. i am running to buy the book.

This is an amazing article,I guess the book wuold be really interesting, most people would think of this as a sci-fi (science-fiction) story.

The scientists research is the begining.Waiting the final fruitful output for human being.I disagree personalizing the issue with the sampled woman.I appriciate the 1st (Dr) person who purposly took sample to reache this current amazing result.

Andinet Zeleke
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

What's sad is that this is not a part of our American history that's taught in schools. She was a black women that continue to make a huge contribution to medical history. Many seem to be concerned if her family was compensated? I feel the bigger question is "when will this be put into our history books?" It's sad that history about Aferican American's contributions to our society and our America is only shared during the moonth of Feb

This is a book worth reading, l think l will put alot of effort in finding the book. Great story!!!

It is still hard to believe that those who make money off of others still don't want to share the profits for as long as they possibly can, if ever! To the family: Don't let the past consume you, rather let it push you foward into the future of understanding and the forgiveness through Jesus Christ. My prayers are with you all! P.S. Great story, obviously this took you some time to collaborate all this information.

Offhand, this sounds like a load of nonsense, i.e. a long story about nothing. The cells must have been subcultured (a normal thing). It can't be the original cells that are still alive.

I really enjoyed reading this article. I am amazed at what those doctors and scientist were able to do with the cells of Henrietta Lacks. It really made me appreciate the Creator even more. The fact that those cells survived so long just reinforced in me that we were made to live forever!

1. Doctor's took something without consent.
2. Is her family being compensated/receiving royalties for this?? I do hope so, for this discovery has changed the condition of Man and has spared the loss of millions.

I am tired of black people being treated with no respect. Everything is not always about money. This women should of had the right to say that it is alright to take her cells, dying or not. alright it's great that the cells opened a Science door. Henrietta should be in the history books, and be given credit for what she contributed.

its great book... i can't wait to reaad that book.

I hate how her children (excepting the daughter) didn't care about the enormous benefits their mother's cells had contributed, until they found out they could got rich off it. Such a disgusting, hard, self-centered culture we live in. Personally, I'm grateful to Henrietta for what she did (albeit unknowingly). God bless her.

I really don't understand the "racist" tone and attititude. I am a black woman and am American. I didn't grow up in Africa even though my ancestry dates back there. I am successful because I have worked hard to be successful. I think this is awesome research that has been done but I don't know why "we", blacks, have to resort to being so proud and yet so angry over something like this. Sure, maybe there should be some restitution, but please stop looking for a hand out. You make all of us look bad. At the end of the day, I am proud of what I have accomplished on my own merit and not what someone "owes me" or gives me; I earn it. Thank you Henrietta Lacks for your contribution to "mankind" (and woman) of all color, race and creed. You are certainly a hero to many who couldn't afford to pay you what your worth for the invaulable, life saving treatments you have given them.

I understand you want to sell your book! But, I wish you would have answered all the questions instead of leaving us hanging! I'll NEVER read a little book much less a big book. It's a great story & enjoyed it.

Very nice piece. And yes it was devious and malicious to use her cells without letting her know or informing her family,,, only to come back to them when they were desperate and wanted to clear out "contamination!"

Good story after atlantis!

I would like to know how a lady with these kind of cells died...

Nice piece.It got me glued to my seat.A very revealing story.God bless her.

So worried about suing and money, her cells have saved billions of our lives and still does every day! Who cares if she was black, stupid to even mention it.

great achievement for human race..the family shuod be given share for the billios of income..in reality greediness is a component of a success,...but at the end,..only god can decide for all of us..

instead of saying black woman from virginia the writer could have said an African American woman from virginia!

Face it, Henrietta was probably just happy to be rid of the tumorous cells, and wouldn't have cared less if they were used. Anyone who has something like that is likely willing to contribute those unwanted cells to help keep their children or grandchildren from getting the same disease. It's sad that part of her family was homeless, and it would have been nice if the profiting research companies were to help. However, if you gave away brush and branches that you wanted out of your yard would you really expect to be compensated if someone carved it into a masterpiece? Another question I have is this: If a white person had the polio vaccine, does that mean that they are now just a little bit black? Just some food for thought in our foolishly color conscious country...

I also want to buy the book. I am in the Philippines. I hope it gets here soon. It should be fun reading.

she doesn't look poor in that photo!!! is that a fur that she has draped around her? I'm glad that the story is being told because no one really thinks of black people when it comes to any kind of notoriaty at all.

thanks for telling the story

As a Republican I have to say I give credit to Obama for a new era of "near" multi-racial unity and that's about it. But while most of us see this, we forget the disgusting era of racism that we inherited. This is an infringement of the most basic private property rights... your own body. Not just that but the fact that no royalities have been given to any of the family members. It's so ironic and sad how her cells have saved thousands of lives and yet most of her family lack health insurance. I am truly disgusted how surreptitious money mongering executives and racist scientists knew the world wouldn't care about "colored" woman. I'm sure this woman didn't know her cells would be used for revenues of multi-national pharmaceutical companies and profits for their CEOs because if she did I'm sure she would have wanted her family to at least get a small percentage of what they the scientists and companies legitimately do not have full rights to.

What an amazing story! I can't wait to read the book. It's really interesting how her cells can remain alive after she has passed on. Someone should really make it a movie.

Not to be cynical, but I guess that Rebecca Skloot will not profit from the book at all ? How endearing of her to champion the cause of this less than well known African American woman who has successfully contributed to vital research and discoveries for all humans. Imagine that! No don’t think I would want to read the book. The article says it all. Also, we are not all “dumb” as some suppose. And yes, even when politicians and others “talk down to us” , the majority of the American public regardless of heritage know when we are being demeaned. No matter how eloquently put or defended . Lastly, an injustice is just that, not just.

the scientists owe the family. they must help the family considering that the family lives in poverty. moreover, the book must be nice.

As usual the poverty of the poor does not count! Including the writer of this book, owes Henrietta Lacks' and her decedents. Maybe with that money one of her decedents may be the doctor to cure cancer. Not to sound racist but I get the impression only certain people can contribute and the rest are worthless! Sounds like a Frankenstein movie using the victim as an excuse to benefit over and over again. Can't kill nothing and nothing won't die. But the poor is always used and not permitted to profit or win at any cost! Reward the family, pay them royalties, and be done with it. If a certain plant producers can raise hell about their genetically alter pollen getting in to the next door neighbor plants by accident, and want to charge them, then why can't these nice folks take advantage of the unknown ways of science. All well, capitalism for the poor and socialism for the rich, as they share the booty. PS Doctor and Weathermen are a few of the only professions that can be wrong and still get payed! I still respect both profession only if human sensibilities are respected.

Very well written, and a great view of what is sometimes forgotten about science. I have hope that the family received even just a 1/100th of a percent of the money made would make them rich beyond their dreams. And I hope that Deborah got some of her information about her mother; I know the scientist can't but if the family is discussing her, hopefully she got to learn some about her Mom.

This also happen with our family. We were involved in research and did not get compensated.

I never read anything in my computer. I mean not like this. For some reason, when i see the pic. I start reading it. Yes... I would love to have the book myself. Where can i find it?

Having a blood platelet dysfunction makes me LOVE this story. Thanks to this woman and the Scientist there is a chance that stem cells could cure me and my family and millions of others of so many things. I say Thank You to Her

Nothing 'subtle' or 'complicated'...a doctor used a patient's body without her consent. The Nuremburg trials denounced experimentation on people without their informed consent. But we have learned nothing from the old saying that the ends does not justify the means. Shame on the author for presenting the woman's life as oh well, we'll all benefit from the affront on her personhood and dignity.

I was very intereste in reading this article and surprise it took to now for someone to let us know that a woman of color has contribute to the science world...great peace i would love to read more..

Why is everyone so worried about if they ever got the compensation? When you have blood taken do you ask for compensation for anything that might be discovered other than the reason the blood was taken? When you get your hair cut, do you ask for compensation just in case it makes its way to a wig maker? How about this, do you ask for compensation for the trash you throw away? That gets turned into methane gas later sold to power homes, parks, golf courses. Also, say that they knew right away and wanted compensation, however were unable to get any. So because compensation could not be given, they did not allow it. Then were would we be today? As soon as I started to read this I was waiting for the part when the family would want money. Everyone is always worried about money and never about the greater good or the advancement of the human race and peace on earth.

but the real question is, when scientists find out HOW this cell is immortal, will that lead to living human bodies to be immortal?

I would rather say this is something relates to KARMA, though the blacks do not really believe in Buddhism

What is the exact name of the book and author?

@Colleen

Some people may think that the cells aren't immortal. True they are not literally immortal but they are biologically immortal. The difference is is that they can die if they are purposely killed. Either by chemicals or lack of sustinence. Normal cells will die after so many reproductions. They are limited by many factors. One being that every time they reproduce, the telomeres get shorter, and eventually are gone. Then the cell stops dividing. It's called apoptosis. But it is common with cancer cells to never stop dividing. If noncancerous cells were to reproduce like this then a human could potentially live forever, save they weren't murdered or in a car accident or the like. A good example to look at are the giant sequoia trees. If it wasn't for the fact that they fall over from getting so big or forrest fires, scientist believe they would never die. There is no sign of aging.

I enjoyed the article and will purchase the book for further information. I wanted to make a comment about the 100s of posts I have seen. Thanks be to God that her cells were taken. Many of us would have died in infancy without her. I understand some peoples bitterness toward the "white man" that took the cells and in turn helped to make all of those life saving discoveries. Truth be told, Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn, unfortunately what is taught, Slavery, is not the whole story. Which in turn makes others angry that the black man has been kept down. I have seen how the black man or woman can be very successful by working. There are those that feel they are "owed" by the white people for the rest of the black persons existence. Give it up and remember we all have the same insides and need to be thankful for the discoveries that this beautiful woman has helped to make. She deserves a larger place in history, not tons of compensation to every black person in existence. Beautiful story, beautiful woman, I wish her family in future generations only the very best. She is looking down on humanity and smiling for sure.

so she should be given credit.. not just the doctors.

Very interesting story. Where is the book???

WOW

I'm curious as to what prompted the scientist at Hopkins to use Henrieta's cell in specific. Why hers?

It is very interesting story, but what the law says about the right of a person whose cells have been taken for scientific research? I think it is high time now the law should be enacted to protect not only the Henrietta family but also all other people who will be involved in such incidences.

It's funny to me that so many people (black, white, latino, etc.) are asking if this woman's family ever got any money...lol...i love you america!!!!

Makes me think; Consider, if HeLa cells, piggybacking on dust particles, being used for numerous medical and scientific purposes, with the ability to "infect" cell cultures... are our own healthy cells safe? What if through all of our advances in medicine, we've only been provoking the pitbull? What if it's only carelessness that's been causing the steady increase in cancer rates? What if the ghost of Henrietta Lacks is slowly killing the world? What if the apocolypse is already upon us?!

*sees dust particle in the air and runs out of the house screaming*

I have to say, I'm not sure about the family being compensated. Do they deserve money for being related to Henrietta?

Just remember folks, everytime someone goes to a doctor's office or into the hospital, all kinds of forms are shoved in your face to sign. NOW you know why. (and they won't treat you unless you do sign those forms, remember that too)

You also rarely have the time to read these forms in order to find out exactly what they really want. So, when the medical profession tries to place the responsiblilty on the patient about their own care, just remember exactly HOW much you are being charged for the office visit, surgical fee, hospital stay, medication, xrays, tests, etc. A lot of people have been bankrupted by the medical profession, while they take advantage of you. Now, they want to put your personal information online. You sign over your rights to them.

I am literally a scientific moron.....but I can't stop thinking that maybe her cells have survived for so long because of the cancer, because of how ruthless cancer is, how strong it is! Maybe this story is yet another reason why the ultimate cure for cancer must be found!! None the less an amazing story......here's to hoping the book will shed some light for me and proof me wrong!!

What a wonderful thing that mankind's understanding and the capability of medicine could be advanced to such a degree by the remarkable cells of the culture taken from Henrietta Lacks. What a pity that some would want to turn this wonder into a racial and compensation issue. And what a waste of a journalist's life to "become obsessed" with exploiting the woman and stirring up her descendants into this controversy. Henrietta Lacks and her family were fully compensated by the fact that she received a doctor's best care and efforts to save her life. She didn't walk into a clinic and offer to donate something. She came in seeking medical help, and she got it. Now to her descendants: take responsibility for your life and work your own way through. No one owes you a living.

Some 46 years ago I lost a child to what was a deadly disease. There was a crucial question that they had not been able to find the answer. I signed for them to do an autopsy. Six months there was a small article in the newspaper that said they had the answer and were working on a solution with the information. That disease is almost always curable now. I am very pleased that my child may have been the one with the answer. That something good should come from such sorrow is a consolation. We are all on this earth for a reason. The drs owe me nothing. That children are living today that would not have survived this illness is the greatest gift in the world. Bugg

Honestly i thinkthe family should be compensated being that the tissue was taken without permission.Additionally,the scientist had no right making money off the cells without the families permission.

Oh thats our lesson in my immunology and serology class.... wow so amazing it was published.... i really didn't know that hela stands for henrietta lacks ... i thought that was just a name given by the scientist taken from whatever they think could be a good name for the cells .... sounds refreshing in my head for some lessons i forgot .... thanks for the info .... its so nice reading it ...since i have some background about this topic ....
And the family should be compensated because the cells of their mother made a difference in the field of science ....it gives contributions, it made wonders,cure some disease and made vaccine out of her cells .... thanks to her cells, it benefits alot of people ....

Sounds like a good read.How many cures made by this find?

Wow! what a story. I am not one to be very intrested in science unless it has to do with hi tech gadgets and stuff but this story blew me away. I clicked on it by accident but i could not stop reading once i started. Great job author, i am looking foward to reading the book.

A movie about it would be nice for her recognition!

As sad as the fact she could not be saved from metastatic cervical cancer fifty years ago, this cancer is still uniformly lethal if not resectable.

Her Hopkins doctor hopefully took the best care of her with the available technology, and hopefully showed empathy and compassion, if only to keep her comfortable. If so, the family owes him gratitude, since he is likely dead, why/how should he pay them any compensation.

I pray that the young ladies in Baltimore read this book and avail themselves to something Ms. Lacks did not have: PAP smears, HPV vaccines, and HPV testing. These screening interventions can nearly prevent death from cervical cancer.

Hopefully they will appreciate 50 years of progress that science has provided to help them.

In Baltimore, many mothers of teenaged girls refuse for them to be vaccinated due to ignorance.

Great story, I think this story should be told everywhere. I also hope the family was compensated. Thanks for sharing!

People are divided on the issue of monutary payment to the family. According to the article,Henrietta's cells were taken without her permission. No matter how you look at it this simple act was morally wrong. The issue of money is mute. The scientist whom took the cells benefited, the pharmacutical companies have benefited from it. Is it wrong for the husband who lost his wife, the children who lost their mother or the daugther Deborah who never got to know her mother to be denied to benefit from it. They have the right to know that part of their loved one involuntarily saved millions of lives from a polio epidemic,advanced gene mapping and vitro fertilization. I lost my mother three years ago. I had the benefit of getting to know her, what made her smile. The sons I feel should be angry. Her family should be paid for the mental anguish suffered at the hands of early 1950's toleration of exploiting a persons medical condition for profit. The sons learned about there mother only after finding out there late mother's cells were being sold and that the scientist were looking to get new samples from them to see if they have the same gene. When my mother died it broke my heart. If, I found out that my mother's cells were illegally taken and being used I would be looking to sue someone for violating my mother's person. Henrietta was a human being first. Just because she was African American does not give society the right to take advantage. I would only by the book if I new that profits from the book were going to establish a fund for the Lack family. Maybe even a scholarship established in her name. Being an African American female, I find it fasinating that people want to dismiss the family receiving monuetary payments because they feel here is another Black person wanting restitution for wrong done against them. This was someones mother, not a test subject. Morally wrong is just wrong. I would argue the same way if is was someone of another culture or nationality.

Wow!!!!!This is something else!

What say we revisit the Betty and Barney Hill event. Their DNA's should be of extreme interest.

To surreptitously obtain any part of this woman's body and use it for gain in any respect no matter how noble is diobolical. Then, to add insult to injury,the family shares no part in the financial prosperity others have so gldadly enjoyed for years. It is a sad day when every man can do that which is right in his own eyes.

An article about how it was discovered that HeLa cancer cells had traveled airborne and invaded other cancer cell cultures was printed many years ago.

It's sad that quite a few people commenting here have the same level of understanding as Henrietta's husband.

This was an interesting article. Research for cures and finding the right way to handle any serious illness is important. Unfortunately, many poor, especially blacks who used as ginney pigs by laboratories. During these early years in search for a cures. There were horror stories that were hidden from the public about the things done to blacks that lived in the area of Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore. People were reported missing. Nothing ususally was done, because the families were poor and lacked the financial needs to obtain any type of search or the backing for support for a search. These are some examples. A woman was not given any anesthia while undergoing surgery. She went into shock. A man was getting a tooth pulled and given no pain medicine or anesthia. A lot of times the disease was not treated and the patients suffered because the medical team was seeing how long a patient could survive w/o treatment. I used to wonder why older black people did not like going to the doctors, esp.the hospital, and that was because they either witnessed or knew someone who suffered becauese of some of the horrible situations that most black and poor persons had gone through during those early to mid 20th century years. Thank God it is not as much. Most third world countries face these types of conditions now.

Now they just take the cells from unborn babies instead.

I suppose their families don't mind that their unborn children and grandchildren are being killed to be used this way - as long as it helps someone, right?

God bless America; we really need it.

Tuskegee experiment all over again the man infecting our people once again !!!

How exactly are her cells immortal, i'd love to know how thats possible and find out all the details, is it in the book?

This story is really great and amazing...though she's died already but her cell lives as long as human race exist.

Not everything in life results in a win win situation. Just knowing that a piece of her has helped so many is payment in full...

Great job, Henrietta Lacks should be IMORTALIZED

I am sure that any lawsuit initiated by the family would not only be a loss on the families side but just a waiste of much needed money. I am sure that because the cells have been purchased (and probably copywrighted) the law will side with science. But I am also sure that Scientific researchers will provide outstanding medical coverage for the descendants of Henrietta if those descendants allow them to take small tissue samples for further testing. I saw that one person asked if the family could initiate a lawsuit against the original scientist and the answer would be no. Because the scientist is most likely dead. And in our society the sins of the father do not transfer to the son. It would also be hard to make a case against the eploing company of that scientist because the leaders of that company (who made the decisions at that time) would also be dead. It would be the same as initiating a criminal case of mass murder in the first degree against the Vatican and Mecca for their involvement in the crusades for Jerusalem. Leaders change and once they have chaged leadership cannot be held responsible for the crimes of past leaders. Just to give a little legal insight. But it is possible that a court would side with the family on ownership of the cells because the family would own the body after death, and those cells were part of her body.

Sigh--it seems like America will never a color-blind society, as witnessed by the nationalistic expressions of some authors' comments, authors who turn a science story into a black nationalism forum. To set the record straight, all Henrietta did was get cancer and have her cells collected by scientists. How does this count as an achievement to black history? What were the races of the scientists who actually developed the vaccines and made other discoveries resulting from the cells? What is more important, the idle lump of coal or the person who discovers a use for the coal? Of course they are both important, but the derivation of benefits of an otherwise useless object deserves more applause than the otherwise useless object itself. My point is not to put down Henrietta or black people, but rather protest the racializing of everything in our society. For those whose comments didn't mention anything about race (which were the majority)--I applaud you as a beacon of progress. To the few who did the opposite, I write my comment.

It makes me wonder if there were any other cells taken from other people, and just how many times were cells taken from other people? And since when and how long? Curious.

Fascinating.............

This is a very amazing story, and if this was done without any family member consent and knowledge, they should be compensate for all those years.But it will never happen.

Sadly most peoples comments highlight the notion that "People are for sale". Why would they compensate a family thats mother/wife's blood was sold to spread the HIV virus to so many innocent people disguised as vaccines and medicines? Why would someone WANT to take money that has done so much wrong and should be a crime agaisnt humanity! WAKE UP PEOPLE! This is a classic scientific research gone wrong and taken over by big business gurus trying to make a few bucks over the years. Scientists are not the probelm here, don't get me wrong. This is just what happens when bad people take advantage of our life saving systems like science and use it to depopulate the earth. Ok.. ok.. I have room for positive perspective. This article was written well. =) But don't be fooled, it lacks some important real facts of the matter.

So...are some of the book's proceeds going to Henrietta's family?

me and my husband read this story together and thought it was very interesting and like so many others would like to know if the family ever received any monatary gain from this it seems to me if they are poor and can not even afford to see a doctor when they are sick that someone with some power would do something to help this family.

:D GREAT THE FAMILY IS SMART THEY SHALL GET EVERY DIME YOU WHITE PEOPLE STOLE FROM THEM AND THEY MOTHER GOD BLESS THAT FAMILY.TRYING TO GET FAME AND MONEY FROM HER DOUGTHER BY STALKING AND TRAPPING HER SMH YOU ARE A SICK PERSON!!!!!!

Deborah’s brothers, though, didn’t think much about the :cells until they found out there was money involved. HeLa cells were the first human biological materials ever bought and sold, which helped launch a multi-billion-dollar industry. When Deborah’s brothers found out that people were selling vials of their mother’s cells, and that the family didn’t get any of the resulting money, they got very angry. Henrietta’s family has lived in poverty most of their lives, and many of them can’t afford health insurance. One of her sons was homeless and living on the streets of Baltimore. So the family launched a campaign to get some of what they felt they were owed financially. It consumed their lives in that way.

If the scientists did not use Henerrita cells for generate income by selling them to other researchers, then, there wouldn't request for proper compasation. But, since the scientist sold Ms Henerita's cells, her family deserves a share of the income generated from the sale of those cell lines, my advise is to them is to hire a business legal counselor to help them properly recover what would have been their share

So if her cells were immortal, then how did cancer kill the cells that caused her death?

Being a student of biology I understand that cells are the foundation for the study of such a science. Regarding on person's comment that we are all just 'animals and the product of evolution', while that may be true, human beings are a different type of animal who make decisions for themselves. As in this day in age consent from the donor must be given before specimens are taken from corpses or live people. Regardless of race consent should have been given before a decision was made on the patient's behalf. The up side of the situation is that the culturization of HeLa cells have led to many great discoveries that has had benefits to the entire planet(human pop). Seeking moneys from a discovery that has shown a benefit to the entire planet is a bit unreasonable and I feel that the Lack family should be very greatful that their mother involuntary donation has saved the lives of countless people around the globe including their own.

I can't wait to read the book!. I had heard of HeLa cells but didn't realize that they originated from one person. I got chills just reading the article. How exciting it must have been to gather all the material to actually write the book. I am glad Mrs. Lack's family agreed.

Thank You for writing this piece. I too had some of the same questions. This is very interesting and I am going to share this story with others.

i want this book, where can i find a copy, too much to tell too many to argue, maybe everything good has no end.

I'm sorry, but what happened to ms. lack and her family? did she survive much longer? I would'nt think so in those days. The interesting story is of that poor family, not imortality. The world cannot sustain the commercialized or black market extension of the average life span. I can see the curing of cancer and AIDS but this type of biological technology is best left alone beyond that.

Abolish money, all governments, stock market, banking system, corporations, religion, military, and etc. All of these are enslavement. I am depress.

THIS IS AMAZING,,,A GREAT STORY THAT I EVER READ ABOUT SCIENCES..

If any individual is getting paid for their tissue "donations" then every individual (or their estate) who ever donated tissue should get paid. Since Henrietta's tissue has given such unprecedented value, the "HeLa" family should be compensated at a premium, and as soon as possible.

But I don't think this was racial. I think doctors in the '50s were just generally disrespectful or ignorant of their patients' bodily boundaries and property rights.

God's miracle. Please compensate the family

Fantastic TRUE story. How many others like her have contributed to study of genetics etc.? These are our real
Heroes .... I will buy this book in a NY second good luck
to the family with getting their "JUST " rewards ....

Its just research about someone slightly different. What is the big deal???

the story was truthful,intersting and factual. I hope field of medicine understand and relate to it. The amazing contribution of a poor farmer now leads to discovery of very relevant information today. The realization of these medical discoveries came from a simple person whom they got interest with.

nice book where can i find one of this?

Great piece nicely done. But as far as the family they should only be compensated for what they themselves donated such as their own cells because they were aware that they were doing it for science and were asked to help with this so they should only be paid for what cells they donated of their own as far as their mother well in those days they really didn't give those choices as to whether you want to donate to science. My uncle was never asked if he wanted to be part of a study group of what radiation does to you during ww1 and he ended up dying from cancer go figure and we never screamed hey u need to compensate!! that stuff was just done back then doesn't mean everything was right but that is they way it was done.

creapy enteresting! like to read the book.

Blind people! you still looking at material thing, didn't your preacher tell you that you're immortal?

VERY INTERESTED. BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT COLOR SHE WAS. HER FAMILY SHOULD HAVE BEEN REWARDED FOR HELPING SCIENTIST INCREASING THEIR KNOWLEDGE. WITHOUT HER CELL, THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE STILL SEARCHING FOR A CURE. BUT, IF IT WAS THEIR CELL IF WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM.

i remember my father telling me about 1967 (when i was a cub scout)that scientists had cancer cells from a woman and the cells never died even though she had. i am amazed to have my memory jogged by this story 43 years later.

There was no compensation because under the law her tissue/cells were considered discard with the hospital or doctors having ownership of the discarded cells--Its case law so the family will never be compensated for their mother's tumor cells- The sons only became interested when they thought they could get compensated for doing nothing. It was the scientist that turn the cells into something of value instead of just throwing the tumor in the garbage--

I am sure the mother would be happy knowing the cancer that caused her death has saved other lives and has also help cure other health issues for so many people.

After reading the article and then the comments, I have a better understanding of what people are most interested in: MONEY AND COMPENSATION.

It has come to a point in our society that many perceive it is right to seek out compensation for any matter, thus twisting the form of what is real for their own pocket's sake.

Fact: HeLa cells have saved many people around the globe
Fact: HeLa cells are scientifically valuable and crucial in finding more methods of helping the human race
Fact: Henrietta Lack's cells are not the wonderful and precious person Henrietta, they are just cells

Let's look at the big picture, the many people who have been saved through HeLa cells, and quit focusing on what we can take and claim as a monetary equvalent to Henrietta Lacks.

I keep seeing - what amount of the proceeds of the book is going to the family? I don't know - did they write the thing?
I am a writer and if I tell a non-fiction story and I do the research - a person of interest in the story has a decision whether to answer questions or not. They do not automatically have a right to royalties from my efforts.
If I write a non-fiction book on a mass murderer, should I send him a check in prison? If I write a non-fiction book on an event, do I need to track down everyone that was involved and give them some money?
In this case, there was discarded tissue and it was used to make some wonderful breakthroughs in medicine. The dumb guy who originally cut the tumor probably did not make a billion dollars - cumulitively there was a great amount of money made with these cells - and a great amount of that was poured back into research to do more good (and make more money, after all we are a capitalist society) But to think that since they did not inform her (HeLa) that it was taken - and at that time there was no way anyone could have told how much money would be involved - she would surely have signed a release has she been asked. What seems wrong was that they didn't ask, but I don't think it had to do with her color - any uneducated southerner - white ofr black would have likely been treated the same. So to make this a race thing or to make this an evil big business thing is wrong. I hate to say it, but if the family wants to make money - write your own book and get it published. Then I would hope all of the righteous indignants here would run out and buy that book. But why do any of that when you can get a hungry ambulance chaser and sue.

it's nice

I will like to buy this book. e-mail me,so i could buy this book. very interesting.

Other than this book, has the family received any recognition? I read a newspaper article which stated that the descendents couldn't afford medical care. You'd think that after all this, their care would all be gratuitous. After all, there may be something else in their cells/genes/DNA that might be valuable. Of course, if their is, it has probably already been harvested w/o their knowledge.

I take it that this is not fiction. In that case, it's just a matter of time that scientists will be able to extend the life and health of humans for well over 100 years. Having said that, Helas's relatives need to seek compasation.The pharmaceutical industry owes them billions of dollars.

I can't believe that, in this day and age, they are still selling black people.

Thank you for a well prepared article. I studied about HeLa cells and Henrietta Lacks in Biology Classes at Jacksonville State University, AL. I was fascinated then and am still fascinated now after reading your article. Good Job!

Great History...I want to know if the family was fairly compensated .....

A great research job.hopefully the family did at some point get compensated.

mysterious yet interesting.. where can i get the book?

Yes! this is a good take on this whole cell mess, scientist playing god and what not, we are so mean to each other, because we think we are doing the right thing(for those in power) for the whole but sometimes we forget to listen to each other and communication is key... I cried reading this article and I'm definitely getting the book, and HeLa's family has a right to be upset.

This is one of the best article I've read, and gives me a lot more perspective looking up the world, want to read the book... I think the family should really receive something, just something...

very interesting--I do wonder if the family got a share of any profits that have accrued over the years. They (one Dr.) took tissue from HeLa's cancerous tumor, without the know- ledge of any of her family members. Before I go on, did ssomeone mention in the article--and I missed it--that she had given her body, after her death, to medical science? If shedid not do that, OOPS!! I'm causasian and NOT racist and her family deserves compensation. Right is right! She not go into whatever hospital registered as a guinae pig! I agree that medical science needed the tissue, but for goodness sake--go about getting it legally!

will the compensate the family? can they do anything about this injustice? totally not fair.

This is a very nice article and I am interested about reading more. As far as the family being compensated I believe that they should be, if people are making money on her cells and she is not alive to recieve any money or benfits from it they should. Just because they are poor and black does not mean they are not entitled to any money. If it was Paris Hilton or one of the rich white people who get or have gotten money through their parents it would be ok. But sense they are black it is wrong I dont think so. We are entitled to things to. And as for her cells helping people and you who are commenting they should be proud of that and keep it moving you try being poor while people are making money off your family and see if you are ok with it. This has been going on forever the indians got their money were is our 40 acres and a mule. We supposed to lay down and just take it. They should try to sue, start with who took and sold the cells in the first place.

This is an interesting article. Worth the read.

God's miraculous wonders. Please compensate the family.

What more can I say...they'e said it all. Very enteresting.

It's a very interesting story. However, in regards to the compensation issue, are there any logical or rational people left in this world? The money seems to be the common theme of 90% of the comments here. Do you think she was the only person to involuntarily contribute to science? Because her cells contained scientific value her family (50 years later) should receive a cut? Who exactly should be told to pay out this sum of money to the deserving great grandkids? I am not knowledgable enough, nor did I live through the time of the Vietnam war, so who am I to say whether it was just or unjust. But I do know that men were drafted, forced to fight and die for the country and received little more than a thank you. Their lives were taken. Henrietta's skin cells were taken. Let's start to embrace common sense again in this country.

Her cells are immortal in that they do not experience telomere degradation. Telomeres are the coatings on the ends of strands of chromosomal DNA that tells the cell where to start and stop in the replication process... rather like the aglets (little plastic bits) on the ends of shoelaces. As time goes by, telomeres normally break down and the cell no longer replicates itself normally, bits from one chromosome may drift over to another or break off all together, resulting in a daughter cell with errors in its code. When enough cells in an organism are no longer fucntional, the organism dies because its systems wear down and no longer function properly and dead cells are not repalced with new healthy cells... this normally happens after a set number of replications known as the Hayflick limit.

Her cells do not express a Hayflick limit. This is why they're so perfect for research, they reproduce exact copies of themselves so long as they are given adequate nutrients to reproduce. One cell divides into two perfect copies, two into four, four into eight.... and so on, all exactly like their parent cell. Since they're all identical, they're perfect for double-blind testing because there is no genetic variable in the samples.

Research is going on into how to replicate this effect, the lack of telomere degradation and suppression of the Hayflick limit. It opens up the potential for incredible advances in regenerative medicine.

That is absolutely the most fascinating article I have read in years. It's like the cross-over point between science fiction and reality. And I love the way you left the readers wanting more . Great reporting. I plan on buying the book.

What do you consider as being alive? Are trees alive? Cells could live just like a tree. The soul, now that's where your alive is, and it has gone on.

Wow, What a story! I wanted more!

Black Don't Crack

That's funny because I was thinking that before i even opened the link.

Money!Money! - All the work starts with help to mankind, then once it clicks - people start thinking ways to profit themselves - the last path is write a book and make some noise and say its for the people to know - In the end its money. Mankind @ its lowest.

It is a very nice and interesting story. I will share this to my friends..thank u!!!

impressive! life indeed is eternal.

Wait a minute, what you think the medical information disclosure procedure is about?

Beyond authorizing the medical personels to proceed with the information on one's behalf, such a leverage does not prevent them from doing evil to us... Medical practice is not only a scientific practice, it entails some morality, a lot of ethics unfortunately most scientists are not equipped with...

Unchecked things of this nature undermine the trust that should engulf us when entering a medical facility... as a patient, do not put yourself in a position of weakness enough not to exercise your right to know about information pertaining to your health status and anything taken off You as part of the medical procedure... Ask and follow up on such lab works... have witnesses about what is being done under you...

You may not know the practices but malpractices and associated evil conducts are foreseeable... Use your wits!!!

I do believe that anything taken out of context for the purpose of material exploitation will never end up accordingly with one's evil plans... nature has a Unique way of claiming back what belongs to IT... timelessly so far!

Demba.

I too am very intrigued to read this story.... But I must say the yahoo headline of this woman being a poor tobacco farmer is not accurate! She is in a fur and her Husband is in a suit.... I'm sorry poor people did not wear those types of clothes or have there pictures taken in portriat forms back then. Don't get me wrong, this family were hard working farmers, but they worked just as hard as the rest of us.

Good stuff! This proves that people really did at one time live to be 100's and even 1,000's of years old according to the bible. Perhaps we are finally catching up to science as it use to be, or is it that there really is nothing new under the son? Thanks to her cells we are able to treat terminal illnesses better than without? If we defeat terminal illnesses, we can conquer death. Aergo, death is an illness that needs to be sqaushed!

Once again, this shows that African-Americans and Africans are the center piece to the human race, along with discoveries in Africa, that further prove these facts. Our ancestors come from some of the oldest civilizations known to man, that still exist to this day (Sudan, Somalia,etc.), which further proves our durability and strenght given to us by the ALMIGHTY!!!!! The TRUTH shall set you free. And, it is these truths, that not only we know, but the rest of the world knows, that are continually proven everyday. Eventhough, like the young lady said, the real story is much more subtle and complicated than that, my friends.

I really enjoyed this story. Despite some people's criticism of its contents, it does bring certain questions to the table that others may not have considered, even me! To the person who was concerned with the financial motive of some relatives, consider that they are (presumably) as well educated as yourself. People are quite alike in most cultures and a venue for 'getting rich' or even merely getting ahead is not exclusive to any country, based on my observations. I don't necessarily agree with that route, but can at least empathize on their plight. I thought the author made a good summary statement of her outlook on the picture and I thank her for sharing this interesting story. DS

Interesting story. I can understand the family feeling 'cheated' but they really weren't. She died of cancer. Period. The cells are only part of her remains, not the entire woman. They couldn't live with her cells, talk to them, love them and interact with them. No they weren't cheated but the world did learn from their mother. Too bad they don't understand that.

Amazing, Imagine all the young people who could be educated and follow up, but the costs are prohibitive to so many of our young people who would love the opportunity, with abilities to make new discoveries and work miracles for mankind.God Bless America, the new day will come.

That was interesting! Though not conclusive of what ever happened to Henrietta's children particularly their cause to have their "share" of the benefits, money, etc out of their mother's so called helpful and instrumental "immortal cells".

Interesting!!! I never waste money to buy any book other than what Uni need me to buy but I ll definitely buy this one.

This is what an actual journalistic piece is. Refreshing to read about Henrietta instead of Brangelina.

Did the author offer any monies made from the sale of this book to the families involved?

I don't buy the racism thing. There were probably plenty of "white folk" that ended up being guinea pigs in the 50's and even today. Come on ladies, of all races! What did that black or white or Asian or "Native American" doctor do with your cells the last time you got a PAP Smear? Did he/she promise to not keep any cells for himself/herself?

It has nothing to do with race! And, why should anyone be compensated for something that was done to their ancestors.

No handouts. Do the right thing!

May be Mrs. Henrietta mind her cells remaining alive to better mankind,and also,her offspring

There are four important facts that matter in this story. 1. There was no law dictating how these things should be dealt with at the time. In fact, there were likely hundreds or thousands of people at the time whos tissues were used in some way that was not related to their treatment or diagnosis. 2. Today, it happens every day. People sign consent forms for surgery and that gives the hospital rights to do with their "samples" as they see fit and as is approved by an internal review board irrespective of the person, their race, ethnic background socioeconomic status etc., 3. Henrietta probably helped more people and saved more lives than any other african american on the planet. 4. Whether you are a conspiracy theorist or not, there are laws that I personally have had to deal with that strictly prohibit the profit from the sale of human tissue. If we were talking about some third world country here it would be a different story. As a person who is deeply involved in the medico-scientific arena, I think Henrietta Deserves more than a couple million dollars to her heirs. I think SHE deserves a national holiday. Anyone who DOESN'T have Polio, cervical cancer, or who has survived ANY kind of cancer as a result of modern medicine's intervention, should lead that charge.

I think that this was and is a great story. The fact that this is a true story makes it real. I think the family should be compensated in some way from this MOTHER'S LIVING CELLS. I WANT TO READ THE BOOK. I WANT TO THANK MRS lACK AND HER FAILY FOR THE SACRAFICE MADE. I REMEMBER THE SPRING DAY THAT I TOOK THE POLIO SHOT IN 1957 AND REMEMBER THAT ALL OF MY CLASSMATES REMEMBER VERY WELL TOO. WE WERE ALL GLAD TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST THE DREADED POLIO. STILL ARE.
You know,someone mentioned the idea of exhuming Henrietta's body to see if it has continued in tact. This is not a morbid idea. The idea here is that It brings a hint of Hope. It is a small peek at God. This is a sacred act. Any such act should be treated in a sacred and respectful way. This is Not for money or greed's sake. Not at all. But with full permission and only with full permission of the surviving near real blood relatives consent. And if it be nay, then, as Jesus said, "...let your answer be either yea, yea or nay, nay. For whatsoever cometh to more than this, is evil." Matt. 5:37. But only the family should say.

Thank you again Mrs Henrietta Lack

A great story! Can't wait to read the book. Ethics should have dictated if this family should have been advised of the great contibution their mother had made; so many lives saved. I am sure Polio was not the only disease that was controlled by immunization. Even that knowledge would have made a difference to her children, who had to grow up without a mother. God Bless You Henrietta Lacks!

very interesting,it makes you think,does anyone know the name of the book?

As the cells were originally taken from the tumor why would anyone become angry at the researcher for taking them, the tumor would have just gone into medical waste and incinerated. Unfortunately thats the problem with society here in the USA, it's all about the money. Why cannot they just be pleased that their heritage has contributed to medical advances. I'd be proud of that.

Great research for a book , I found it an interesting article.

I grow up not too far Clover Va Those White Doctors in that area just used uneducated Black people. I thought they just took our land and houses if we couldn't pay them but Wow our DNA too.

How about the family? They must be compensated for the sale of their mothers "immortal cell". interesting!

It's great that Henrietta Lack's cells have resulted in so many wonderful discoveries. But, lots of people, most of them white males, have made billions of dollars and built successful careers off of her body. The family should be duly compensated. Its immoral and should be illegal that the cells were taken and used without Mrs. Lack's permission. The insult is doubled that her family was never told. I wonder how many people would be willing to let bygones be bygones without compensation if it were their mother, grandmother or sister. Unfortunately, this is another example of abuse of a poor, uneducated person by rich, powerful institutions.

YES. An amazing story. And I will buy the book. And I do hope that Ms.Lacks family receives royalities from the book sales. BUT here's my question: So many of the comments are about RACE? Why? Why can't we just get past the part of race and simply recognize we're all human beings. The color of our skins are surely noticeable and I wouldn't want a world where everyone was the same....but could someone please explain to me why EVERYTHING seems to revolve around RACE.

Fascinating! And I do totally agree with the suggestion that her Family should be given some sort of financial compensation. They are truly in need of financial assistance and she was not asked for her permission to use her cells in this way. She may or may not have agreed. That is why, her family and generations should be compensated for this , long term.

A wonderful and very timely revelation. I am very excited to find out if there are other individuals who are gifted with "immortal cells".

wow! its interesting to know.

I disagree with the person(s) that stated if Henrietta was a white woman-she would have been known about years ago. Many donors for research purposes or otherwise often are anonymous, or unnamed due to age old laws reguarding Doctor/patient priveledge (confidentiality), known today as hippa laws. I am amazed by this story for that reason, you never hear about the people that helped us get where we are today in medical advances-simply from being a donor. Truly amazing! Thank You Henrietta:)

I took a genetics class in college 15 years ago that revolved around growing these cells all quarter. All we were told was that they were cervical cells originating from a woman in the 50's. Their growth started out normally and they became increasingly multinucleated as time progressed. I've never been able to forget it. For something so personal from this family to be shared with the world for the sake of science is commendable, but for it to be taken from them without their knowledge and just compensation or even an apology is just deplorable.

wow really interesting. I may just go and get the book. I find this very very interesting

I read about this in Oprah's magazine, and I was appalled. The fact that she was not told what was being done with her cells and that people have profitted while her family continues to live in poverty is why people of color have a valid reason to mistrust doctors. Her family should receive a large portion of any money that has been earned and an apology.

Yes good story, well written until the end. I still wanna know what happend to all that money after the ending of that movie with the crazed killer being the star???

Interesting story. I had never heard of cells living a long time like this. And to think of the huge health benefits that arise from long lasting cells stuns me. Think of the millions or even billions of lives these and other cells will save.

Kandi made me laugh with her post. Good humor. But I doubt anyone will get anything monetary out of these cells other than medical research. And I don't think they should receive anything.

The Dr that took them did so in the tiny hope of furthering his fellow scientists along the way. He probably thought nothing of it in that day and age. And he surely never even imagined the great boost in cures from this one small piece of tumor. Cells were taken from hundreds of thousands of unknowing people back then. Just because Mrs Lacks cells proved very helpful does not mean big "money". The HUGE honor of her name on these cells is enough.

It's a good thing cells are anonymous now. "Give me money, I deserve money, Are you going to pay me money, You owe me money, I'll sue you for more money, I get a percentage of fill-in-the-blank." How ugly money hungry. Gag!! Medical research would practically come to a standstill and fewer cures would be found.

To all of you read the book "Medical Apartheid - The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present" by Harriet A. Washington. Civil Rights Leader Fannie Lou Hamer was subjected to a "Mississippi appendectomy" - a nonconsensual sterilization-to which she ascribed her political awakening. Black people have never had any rights even over their own bodies. So, a White doctor would have every right to take whatever he needed and didn't have to ask.

Amazing! I will definitely buy the book. I thank my daughter for sending me the article!

For those who have made comments that this family should not seek compensation from whoever was resposible for stealing this woman's cell are full of it. What that doctor did by taking this woman's cells was wrong and as I was reading this article I was shocked to find out that the family had not pressed charges or sued yet. It was wrong for that doctor to do that and I think the family should be compensated in some kind of way. I know why her cells were taken and nothing was done about it, but that's to be discussed in another forum.

Amazing and very interesting.... her immediate family should be conpensated

I find it sad that many of the comments lead back to race and money.
It never fails to make me shake my head in wonder when people who want "equality" immediately point out the word "black" and the different races involved in any article such as this. Why is it a big deal whether she is African American or white? Focusing on that stereotype (she was black, so they used her) simply prolongs any sort of separation there might be between races. For a country that wants no division, we seem very determined to create one.

Money-wise, it doesn't seem as though the family should get any compensation. It sounds just like a bunch of greedy people trying to milk the system because they realized all of the sudden that it might be possible for them to do so. Anyone else who contributed to science didn't receive any sort of "compensation" for their heirs, they did it to advance human society. This case might be a little different because it was taken without the woman knowing, but either way, the cells didn't belong to the kids, they belonged to Henrietta Lacks. There's no claim to money from the children. I will add that I do think it is despicable that the medical field profited monetarily from their usage as well.

MY, MY, MY, WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? WE FINALLY HAVE THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN 1951. THIS GOES BACK EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT IF BLACK PEOPLE TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN THIER HISTORY THEY WILL SEE THAT THE AFRICAN RACE IS THE MOST DOMINANT OF THE RACES AND TRULY EQUIPPED TO HAVE CELLS THAT CAN LIVE AND PRODUCE IN THIS MANNER. GO BACK EVEN FURTHER TO THE CAUCAUS MOUNTAINS AND LEARN WHY INDIVIDUALS HAD TO MIGRATE THERE? BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT IN EGYPT. A LITTLE FOOD FOR THOUGHT. GO RESEARCH GO FIGURE!!!!!!

This is a fascinating piece that will help shield light on some scientific mysteries that ordinary people out of the scientific domain cannot understand in medicine. thanks for sharing this brillant isuues. I can't wait to read the whole story.

This immediately caught my attention because HeLa cells were discussed in my molecular cell biology class last week. the instructor showd a picture of HeLa but I couldn't tell that she was black. Interesting. I might buy this book. Good article.

Wow that is amazing! It truly is awesome some of the things that scientists can do. I think that H. Lacks's family should be proud of their mother! I'm sure that she helped save alot of lives. I do agree that they should have some compensation because good grief they've made alot of money off of it. They could spare at least enough to get the family out of poverty. Instead of compensation, they could just call it a donation.

I'm reading this book. It is so well written and researched. I'm appalled at how this poor women went through and how she was treated.

WoW! this is a amazing story I worked with the HELA Cells myself at a university I attended last fall Nad I never knew that she was a black woman nor did I know that her family was suffering in various ways because of this issue about her cells. I am definately going to but this book!

This is a wonderful story. Somewhere, somehow God's creation has left a footprint for medical research. Compansating the Family would be a wise thing to do. Also, Henrietta's family should first give thanks to the almighty and most powerful God, then to the research community for the great work they have done.

I saw this on the 60 minutes. This is an amazing story, but at the same time the scientist was wrong for not asking her could he take her cell and do research with it. The family needs something out of this.

Very intriguing.

is this true? it's like a story froman anime or something

Wow, that story is truly touching and the fact that it's from a black women, ties together perfectly for Black History Month.

great job!

I don't see a problem with cell lines so long as permission is asked. I'd also most certainly not want to see patents for genes coming out of donated material. Want a big $$$ patent pay the patient royalties. Better outlaw patents on genetic material, we didn't create these genes, we discovered them. Astronomers don't get to patent stars, nor geologist rocks, why does big pharma get to patent genes?

WOW!!!!This is so so amazing to hear.I am so proud to be African American, this book such be in school all over the world this is very educational it make me read more about History of black cell.the scientist who did this know Mrs Henrietta Lacks and know she was BLACK WOMAN ,and they know of her family and did not help them so!so!so in human thank you for my black History, the truth is coming out and WHAT NEXT? are WHO NEXT?**GOD DON"T MAKE ANY MISTAKE************
********BLESS YOU MRS. Henrietta Lacks and your family********

WOW!! This was an amazing piece of writing. It could have been something out of a sci-fi magazine or movie on TV back in the 1950's. What scientific breakthroughs were going on way back then and it wasn't even known to the majority of the public, what a shame. I was one of the recipientes of the first polio vaccine back in the '50's and to think all these years I had no idea that it was due to a black woman's cells, how interesting considering I was born and raised in the south with segregation all around me until I was an adult. I wonder if folks would have known how that vaccine was made, from a black woman's cells, if there would have been any backlash over giving that polio vaccine??? Maybe that is one reason scientist didn't let the public know, just food for thought!! Reading this makes me want to buy the book and find out more about the family.

A well written article and intices one to learn more! The author's care and concern shown in her approaches to the Lacks family is remarkable in this age of sensationalistic journalism. Ms. Skloot's did exercise great tact and sensitivity and shows great skill in telling the history that needs to be well known beyond the average scientist.

Fitting to be in time for black history month. I hope this inspiring story encourages many young people to enter into the sciences rather than become lawyers! JUST THINK of the good that could been done with more brain power devoted to helping all of humankind with scientific break-throughs.

While the 1950s had some or a lot of different business and ethics practices, it simply was a different era in respecting anyone's body (whether white,red, yellow or brown) for scientific use. THIS WAS OVER 60 YEARS AGO!!! Maybe not an excuse, but that was the sad case back then.

So fast forward to this millenium...we Americans have evolved and been graced by HeLa's cells and those results. We should all be so very pround of Henrietta's contributions. In fact, anyone can contribute and be the one person that makes a difference. DARE TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR. I am.

I also always knowingly and with informed consent donate my tissues/cells to research after any surgeries/procedures. In short, I can't use them any longer personally, so I always hope science can do something beneficial for at least one other human. Why not help someone else out? I'd be honored if I was able to help out just one person and make a positive difference.

But why should a doctor took a sample from a partient without any notification? and why despite the abundant wealth generated through the research the woman and her family were allow to die miserably in poverty? This to me is a disrespect to human life and abuse to mankind in general.

I hope that the family get some copinsation from this. Why wern't they told sooner about it?. 1951 until now, amazing and unbelievable that it was kept away from them for so long.

Such an amazing article!!!

I think this is an amazing story.......however the scientist were wrong how they went about getting her cell dishonestly.
But regardless all I see any more is all about money money money and that is all people really think about... this woman is a part of History she and many others have suffered and went through many things and I am sure if she thought her cells would help cure disease she would be very happy.

Again, compensation. Again, "her contribution". The value of the cell line came from the development of those cells. By themselves, cells have no value beyond dust mite food! And those cells at the time were no more than waste. This is like saying the guy who threw away the orange that penicillium mold was discovered growing on deserves billions of dollars because of penicillin! How utterly absurb!

As to her "contribution", she made none. Contribute is an act. She did nothing. She did not answer an ad somewhere and selfless go down to the hospital and agree to go through an invasive process to cull those cells. She contributed zero.

This must be a real good story, like 50 years in the making? I hope someday this can make its way to a film. I like the way the article was narrated, the build-up of emotions is great. Made me more interested and mystified with this subject.

When you think of how many lives have been saved and the impact these cells have made ,and are still making, it is sad that Mrs. Lacks children, some who were too young when their mother died to have known her, are without health care, and have no inheritance. Her DNA although extremely useful was stolen. It seems they are still looking to the family for more exploits. They should be compensated.

To Nancy Salisbury: You posted a comment today about your grandfather and your relation to the family of Daniel Boone, but you did not leave a contact, or at least none was posted. I wanted to let you know that you might find information at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center in Maysville, Kentucky. I'm not sure what they'll be able to help you with, but it's worth a shot. There is history here in Maysville regarding Daniel Boone, and even an old cemetery behind the museum center that I believe has some of his family (maybe a brother?) buried there. Also, check museum and library resources in Lexington, Kentucky for Henry Clay. There is a "Henry Clay House", if your grandfather was any relation (given his name), as he was a prominent part of Lexington's and Kentucky's history. I hope this helps you out! Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to speak about it. 606-564-6815 -Matt

This is really Amazing but we have to remeber that; God has a reason for everything. Scientist must agree, confess and believe that God created everything including themselves and give them courage and use their brain to help others from their discoveries. The scientist must think of how the Family of Henrietta is gaining profit from their mother's, and Grand Ma's Cell donation.

I would like to start by saying this is a very fascinating,and very interesting article! but why is it so fascinating that it came from a black woman,DNA is DNA.Let's look at the time frame this all took place over 50 years ago! things were different the FDA didn't have the rules and regulations that they have today. I really feel the doctor or doctors, hearts were in the right place trying to find cures for these horrible diseases.Henrietta Lacks cells where truly one of a kind that helped millions of people of all race. I can almost bet her family would not have allowed her cells to be donated to science.All though i admit there was some sneakyness involved,look at all the good that has come out of this poor woman's tragady!the help in developing polio,vitro fertilization.and many more.There are people today that donate tissue,organs,cells,eyes just so people can live.Deborahs brothers weren't the least bit interested in there mothers death until they heard they could profit!!!Shame on them they should be proud there mother made history and brought comfort to so many people.As far as them making millions, it takes millions to find cures!!

That Henrietta's family doesn't have health care when their Mother is source of Medicine is terrible. I imagine if they had been given any money at all, it would have been in this report. To the author, excellent writing. Thank you for your persistence.

Why do these storys happen to come out on black history month

This was a very interesting article. I would be very interested to read the book too.

amazing...sounds unusual and interesting.A must read book.

yes facinating sure. Should she be paid for her cells that is just silly. I don't know how they become immortal. You don't take a dump and say those are my cells in there somewhere and I should be paid for it if there is any gold cells in there. Cancer seems to be stronger than anyone and usually is cause of some dealths. So we are cells but people are a combination of cells. Not what they capture or how their body responds to them. I guess that might be some DNA or some environmental external or as we are all connected biochemically. Can't ignore the fact there are many microscopic things living around us and some of those things are so strong they could kill you. I don't know what to make of it. Great to see much progress was made and discovered but doesn't sound like there is a reason for these cells living. The heck with the story about a woman who got sick. How about the science behind it. That is the interesting part. The woman who had this makeup or disease is not that interesting. To find out someone is sick is not no happy ending. People kind of benefiting from it is kind of a happy ending. To take cells happens all the time in samples (biopseys?). You would like to know if someone is using them for something but they are not really exactly yours. Life is only temporary until something fails and you can no longer live or disease takes over. You need all systems as functioning not just one cell or one type of cell.

What a wonderful piece, and BRAVO! For the quality in which it is written and published on this very first day of Black History Month, 2010. I am on a fixed income so I could not spend a lot on presents for Christmas, 2009, but I bought what I felt was one special affordable present to give to my daughter and her husband who are expecting their first child in June this year. I gave them one of those ole large, Family Bibles like the ones we use to record special dates in back in the day. They were very happy to get the bible. Little did I know that they were thinking like me. They gifted me with a membership to Ancestry.com. I have been diligently seeking information for them and recording it. After saying all that, I mostly want to also say that we should share as much of our history with our children and other family members. It has really been hard to trace back especially since my parents, aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers have all pasted on. Only one left out of 8 and me. Also, I told my daughter and son in law that I am Willing my body to Medical Science, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. This decision was made after my study about Plastination and organ donations. I cannot think of a better way to leave a legacy.
Save a life, please consider being an organ doner.

Wow, great ready...love the story behind the cell. Who knew!

I would like to donate some sperm cells. My genes are off the chart!

"Valtava" Great
Good to know about Hela cell in first begin step in biological, some people never die in our mind and thoughts is this is the most likely person Hela to landmark for new students. Just i can say to be happy to hela family members that they had got legend lady.

I think this woman's family of relatives should be presented with some tpe of posthumous award in her honor.

This is an amazing story. I am so glad I ran across this. I plan to buy the book tomorrow on my lunch break. The O Magazine ran part of the story in the February issue. I was able to read 5000 words of the book online. Now I can't wait to read the entire book. I am so glad Ms. Skloot researched this story and wrote this book. She should win some sort of an award for this. Excellent!

Nice article. BTW, is it just me or does anyone else think that Henrietta resemble ABC's Robin Roberts?

This story is remarkable,Thanks Henrietta Lacks and its family.Afoundation need to be made on behalf of(HELLA CELLS) for as longas itlive or use for menkind.I'W be looking for the Book!!
Thanks(Rebecca Skloot) for the remarkable story. From FJ.

Great journalism! Credit to the biology teacher as well,I hope his or her name is or will be mentioned somewhere! As for the Lacks, I believe a NOBEL prize award in the area of "Sustainable Development "is befitting as a great source to improving our humanity.

It's very interesting.

It's very hard for me to believe but if it is true,ok it's amazing. But only God can understand it fully.

Race matters, being that it was 1951 when this all took place. So if you are not black and saying that you should just think about how whites did evil things to the black race back then. Not all, but alot. Yes the family should get money that is rightfully theirs. It does not matter if they did not care about the cells or if they did not want to participate in donating their own. They had the right to be given the money along time ago. Yes black history should be taught in schools because black history is not taught enough in certain areas of our country.

this story is amazing,

Very interesting would like to know more about it.

I am eleven years old and even I think this writting is interesting!!! But it's a little scary.

how do we they didnt start spreading more cancer that way

This is an amazing story. I thought this only happen in movies. I'd just like to be clarified, does this mean that the cell of Henrietta Lack is immortal?If so, how come that Lack still died?Is there any possibility in this world that a human being can really be immortal? This is so intriguing.. I want to have a copy of the book.

I have mixed feelings about this story. Ethnic issues asside, it bothers me that a persons tissue samaples can be sent somewhere and manipulated, without the permision of that person. OK maybe in the time frame it happened, science was that new, that no one knew any diff., still bothers me that a part of me can be used for scientific study because I don't totally agree with all areas of thier sientific study, so I should be consulted first.

real super hero lives among us.....like me,can anyone ever believe someone can fly?believe or not...thank u hela....

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Incredible... the sons are after the money.... instead of getting an education and working hard... gotta get their piece of the pie....

pathetic

Almost all cancer cells are immortal (relative to the rest)... it is true that scientists don't know why, but that doesn't mean that her cells are anything remarkably different than the rest of ours.

The origin of stem cell research!!! How amazing!! Can't wait to read the book..

Thank you Henrietta.

This is both interesting and bittersweet. Especially during Black History Month. I just wrote about Black inventors for my website. Many could not get patents until after the Civil War. One inventor sold his invention - just to buy his freedom. This makes me think about how race does matter, education does matter, and humanity matters. Also reminds me of the Tuskegee study, and how poor, illiterate blacks were given syphillus, unknowingly. The price we pay for healing - our bodies and our nation is big. And bittersweet.

How does one know she really had cancer got to read this book.

Scientists are human too,they must realise the importance of other human being's body parts.cells utilised illegally just for the sake of money...This is all signs of Almighty God for the humans to know and understand who is their creater.
On one scientific invention,scientists are appreciated so much and gets recognition all over the world.What about God who created you from a single pair..Have you ever given a thought about it...What you are doing is right or wrong?
Have anybody ever thought what would have happened to Henrietta after her death..

The story of Mrs. Lack was eloquently and poignantly told in Mrs. Henrietta Washington's (should be) seminal book, Medical Apartheid, published in 2006. There is a long history of the use of African-Americans as medical guinea pigs, regardless of the spin given to Mrs. Lacks' "contribution".

If you want to read about Mrs. Lacks, who at some point resided in Turner Station in Baltimore, Maryland, in a larger context, read Ms. Washington's book. There are several articles about her that predate the 1990's. "The cells that would not die", The Baltimore Sun, March 1981. "The immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks", Reader's Digest, September 1986. Another article, "Her cells made her immortal", The Baltimore Sun, March 1997, and a more recent article (not cited) written perhaps in 2005, also express the sentiments of her family.

It is so interesting... I really enjoy it!!

Careful write up!, ‘It consumed their lives in that way’ means no compensation nor acknowledgement that Henrietta was used as a Guinea Pig..No one will ever get compensation for in directory contribution or else medical/scientific litigation will never stop.

Yes we shiould have cells testing, it may help us fine a cure for all illness, in our life time.
I think th govenorment should set a side money to help with the cells testing.

The entire story is fascinating. What is, also, interesting are the number of people whose only concern is whether the family got paid or not.

I won't rest until I read this book. What a journey!

If this is true.. it's incredibly amazing!

Amazing story where they able to map the cells and did the family get compensation. What a good story for Black History month.

Amazing...I wanna buy that book!

it is a cell that is alive.. are we looking at us reach atlist 102 years old.. or just something to think and to write on this article? war is still an issue? pls no war included on this story ok!!! ONE CELL ONE HEART ONE HOME ONE EARTH.. GO HENRIETA.. thank you for the story..

Fascinating! And so timely for Black History Month. So many more untold stories like this should be revealed. I'm a visual person as well as a former TV news reporter. This would be a great segment on 60 Minutes and 20/20.

AMAZING to know this because I previously held a bottle of HeLa cell line without any idea where it came from!

Very Intriqing article. I will be watching for the book. Well written as well, I usually end up getting bored and quiting before the conclusion but you did a good job keeping my interest. Thanks.

im 12 and this was very interisting and hard to believe

All things are not as simple as they seem.

ohhh.. nice very interesting...I would like to buy the books also :-)

Should make this into a movie. Convey message of Our Humanity & Our Need to save someone's life.

I too have immortal cells.

GOOD JOB I WILL BUY THIS BOOK WHEN CAN I GET THE BOOK? YOU SHOULD SEND ONE TO OBAMA. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

This is a excellent piece of reporting. The story is fascinating and leaves a great deal of room for thought. I cannot imagine the emotional ups and downs the family must have experienced. Thank you so much for bringing the truth to the surface. I would love to read the book in its entirety.

Disturbing... a vaccine created from undying tumor cells and in cloning? Couldn't even imagine this up in my nightmares. Science has become so horrible. I just hope nature cleanses us from this world before we become abominations.

HeLa's family should be awarded a nobel prize, in honor of her.. great story..

If only Henrietta could have known how important she would be to all human-kind. I find this as fascinating as everyone else and I too will be reading the book. I just have to know more. Now I want to exactly who this woman was and about all of the testing and results. I want to know more about her family as well.

The book is set for released 2/2/10 on Amazon.com. They are taking preorders now. I have just added it to my "wish list". The whole story sounds fascinating!

This book sounds facinating as I am in college to become a Medical Lab Scientist. I am just beginning to understand the use of cells in the lab. Things from how much medicine/antibiotics to use for a patient, to breaththroughs in medicine and cancer victoms, healing our elderly,our children.Etc. There are many scientists out there whose only desires are to study, research, and discover cures for the sake of human life and to give us a better standard of life from their discoveries...Education and hard work should pay off as it has been earned through 8 years or more of hard work,study, and sacrifice! Yes, there are companies/people out there to make money and exploit, it is to be expected. That is why it is important to educate yourselves.Research and know what you are learning about. We now have laws for patient privacy. They didnt back then. You should not apply our rules from our time to things that were done in the past. We as a people, as a human race should learn from our history from our mistakes and wrongdoings and improve with that knowledge!
And I believe people that think those dr's were only thinking, "oooh lets take her cells to make millions" is a very close minded and ignorant asumption to make. A discovery was made that had never been made before!!!! What a gift from God! Shame on those people that can only see greed, rascimn and malisous intentions! Why can people not see beyond color I wonder? No one looks at discoveries or contributions of a non-black person and says, "oh he or she discovered this and they were Asian or white!" There is still injustice to not only blacks but to children especially, and women. I do believe the initial family should be reimbursed for the discovery though. And a college fund set up for any family members would be a wonderful token of gratitude and rememberence of the research done in Henrietta's name.

I'm amazed at how many people saw this as a racial thing. I'm caucasian & recently had a hysterectomy. If scientists could have used my cells in some way that would help others & save lives, I would be thrilled; & I wouldn't want a dime in payment! Helping humanity is something we should all want to do without asking what's in it for me. Thank you, Henrietta.

After reading this article I sit here in wonderment and the only thought on my mine is that this woman is a descendant Jesus Christ!

I AGREE THE FAMILY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN SOMETHING FROM THE BEGINNING.I ALSO BELIEVE IF IT WERE A WHITE WOMAN THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT.KARMA IS ALIVE AND GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. IT MAKES ME SAD TO SEE THIS PEOPLE WITH OUT HEALTH CARE, YET THERE BODY WAS USED TO HELP THE HEALTH OF OTHERS. HOW ABOUT GIVING PROPER HEALTH CARE EVEN TODAY TO SAVE LIVES INSTEAD. EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE BUT MANY DENIE THIS. I ALSO DO BELIEVE THE CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN OF THIS WOMAN WILL GROW AND NEVER SUFFER BECAUSE GOD FIXES EVERYTHING. NO I AM NOT BLACK BUT LATINA .

wowwwwww......this is incredible,are u saying she is super hero?God bless her...

This was a great article you learn something new everyday, that lady is an angel. I would love to buy the book to see if the family was given what is there and if the daughter found out all the information she wanted to know about her mom because that crazy plz let me know where can i get this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ASAP thanj you

From the photo, she was very beautiful. They make a handsome couple. I wonder if she ever knew they had taken and used her tissue for their experiments. Although millions were made off her cells and they knew who she was, why wasn't this money shared with the family? Obviously greed was involved as much as the urge to cure.

I read here that her cervical cancer were from HIV cells floating on dust cells, that she was allowed to die because she was black and not white,that she suffered indignity because of being black and other inane statements that just obscure the writer's, who was even attacked as keeping money and not sharing with Ms. Lack's family, message.
Cervical cancer is a killer now and was fifty years ago, the researchers at Johns Hopkins, if they were racists, would not use a black woman's cells for ANYTHING.
Did any of you non thinkers ever think that maybe she was the only young woman with cervical cancer at the hospital and they needed cancer cells. If you READ the article, the researcher hid her identity not because of her color, but because of the press trying to find her family and cell research is anonymous....Go read Popular Mechanics if you can't digest something from Smithsonian without giving it a racial slant.

PRAISE BE TO ALMIGHTY GOD !!! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAR A BLACK MAN'S CELL IS SAVING THE WORLD!
MANY WHITES WOULD HAVE PREFERED TO DIE OF POLIO THAN HAVING A BLACK MAN'S CELL INJESCTED INTO THEM LETS SEE IF THE WHITES WILL STOP RECEIVING C=VACCINATION NOW.
GLORY BE TO JAH.

If you just take your "Kids Flintstones Vitamins," you will live forever...I had no idea those vitamins were so powerful, amazing :)

This is extraordinary!!! A must buy book for everyone!

Interesting !!!!

Why should Henrietta's family be compensated? They did nothing to earn the money. Nor were they injured in any way. If a group of scientists took my snot and experimented on it for 50 years, I would not expect my descendants to receive compensation.

look for what reason is race even in this. does anyone know how many women were treated for this same thing in 1951. and whether they were black or white does that matter? or for that mater if sampels were taken from the other women ? and not told about it. did the doctor actually right down in a journel that she was not asked first is there proof,im saying that she did not give her permission? lets get over this whole race issue and celebrate a woman who possibly new they were going to take the sample and as an outcome saved many lives

Wow, what a facinating story! I will definitely buy the book so that I can learn "the rest of the story." Thank you for having the insight and the tenacity to persue this story. And , a huge "thank you" to Henrietta for her valuable contribution to mankind.

excellent account of medical history. i worked on research projects using HeLa cells on three occasions, once to find a vaccine for influenza A2.
at the time, removing a small sample of excised tissue was considered no more immoral than, say, saving fingernail clippings or a tress of hair.what is amazing is that undifferentiated tissue, which is what a cancer is, should live this long in the very same form, with the same qualities and stability. the expectation is that the tissue would just die, but it didn't and hasn't and evidently won't.

some may now see it as immoral, unethical, racist, financially unjust. i cannot judge these things. i am just grateful to mrs. lacks for having lived, albeit far too briefly.

so amazing of the true storey of the immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks and how it has scientifical study help the whole world how ever takeing ms Henrietta Lacks cells with out permission1 and 2 with out notifying her family after & 3 the most outrage selling the cells of billions of money with compensation to the family is outrageous greed and selfish and wrong regardles how you sugarcoat the fact of the matter very disgrace. my heart goes out to the family.

This story is very educational. It touches on what can be done in terms of research and science. It also touches on the ethics of the medical field. I think the family is owed money. They werent given the chance to choose. It helped the technology of medical research. Yet there was no recognition to the source. I will read the book.

...After all the scientific breakthroughs her cells have brought to humankind I think it would be nice to offer a moment of silence for Mrs. Henrietta Lacks...

a very interesting piece!....i want to read further story about this henrietta....

makes me want to cry!

It's not everyday u get a story like this so i'm raelly fascinated by HeLa's story and even the writer who was that determined to reveal this very inportant story that has been kept quiet for so long. BigUps...

Facinating!!

This article definately makes me want to buy the book. I have MS and firmly believe that the cure for any one of the catastrophic diseases (cancer, MS, lukemia, HIV, etc) will have a domino effect...find a cure for one, the cure for the others will fall into place.

What a wonderful legacy for Henretta Lack! But I agree with the majority of responders and believe her offspring should have been and should be receiving compensation for her unauthorized donation to science. "HeLa cells were the first human biological materials ever bought and sold, which help launch a multi-billion-dollar industry."

She paid with her life and her heirs should be allowed to live in some sort of comfort .... what would, say, even 1 or 2% of a multi billion dollar industry mean to her family's quality of life? What has her donation made to the quality of your life or someone you love or know? Smithsonian...are you doing anything to help this family?????

this sounds interesting i wounder who else is like that i think it would be kewl

Ughh What happened? This is such a clincher!! I have to get it from the library (sorry poor grad student)to find out what happened. It is surely a great journalism piece. Along the way the Smithsonian just got a new subscriber :)

TG
Bronx, NY

Hmmm okay so like is it just a myth for a human to be immortal or can scientist actually figure out a way using Henriettas cells?????

To the author: I really think this article is great. Thank you for actually taking the time and persisting to this extent. This is definetly another part of our Black History. I have to admit that the more I learn of our Black history and the way we were taken advantage of, it makes me proud of our accomplishments today "(OBAMA)" but it also makes me sad, mad and amazed on much is hidden in our past. I cant wait to read the book. The entire family should be compensated, its the least they can do.....

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How many more were there like H.L. Only GOD knows and we should know also. I will Get The Book!!! WE all should.

GOD BLESS HER AND HER FAMILY....

I am so excited to learn more about this biologically! Thanks!

Awesome story, but in answer to some comments, cells and race doesn't matter when it comes to science. When you have cancer in modern day they ask you if they can sample it for science and no you don't get paid you do it for posterity in hopes it will help someone in the future (at least that is what I hope for my cancer cells). God bless her children growing up without a mother and poor.

How is this information substantiated? In the book, are there pictures or images of original documents?

Her story should be tought in every school...

The book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, is available on Amazon for $14.04. It also can be bought at Barnes & Noble.

Very intersting story. Great the way one's human part can help solve mysteries in our medical world to help millions. Me think, it's a good thing. But the bad thing about this story is how Henrieta's living family was not interested about human genes until the money factor came to focus.LOL..Ahhh humans. Always thinking for themselfs and not others.

This is an intriguing article, although I would believe that if we took the cells we would find that they arent truly immortal but just able to live longer, like a bacteria can out live a human and move on except these are cells. This is a very fascinating article/

I, too, will purchase the book. As was and still is, people of color-particularly black people are being exploited in the name of and most science related studies without their knowledge. The sad thing is, it is government sponsored. Granted, we need research science to find cures, but don't come as a thief in the night and then try and dismiss what you were really after. There will never be full equality in our society, so, stop picking on the un-educated or the under-educated. That fosters distrust amoung that population.

I love this story! I can wait to buy the book, I must send a copy to my doughter. WOW AMAZING !!!!!

nice :)

OK, the study involving human cells is good for the humanity in the future. But, a lot of people (scientests) made a lot of money on the sale of HeLa cells. Why not compensate the children of Henrieta? They have lived in a poverty for so long. Make sure that the children gets some money, is human enough.

it is very interesthing story ...this story is good for the movie, many people can learn about this ..not only educated people also to the people that no read no right...also if this family of henrietta will be agree that hier mother story can be out as movie ..then they can have money for this so thier mother can help them even her mother is already deid...it is big help specially to henrietta family and also to the native people..you know what you can help alot of people if you going out this and make this as movie...you can get money for henrietta family as help for them ,not only money also knowledge..not only for educated people also to the small people...

thats only my suggestion...but this story is really amazing...

Its seems like the family would have be compensated for the sale and passing around her cells, after all her husband offspring were still alive with these findings. But with this culture has historically treated people- they'll probably never see a penny. Interesting though.

I don't know what the fuss is regarding compensation. I mean we are all just animals that are the product of evolution right? It's no different than working with cells from a lab rat is it? Neat story

This is a book I would really enjoy reading. I am going to try and find it.It's an amazing story.

A tumor was taken out of a women who died, and was used for science when this was an early area of medical work, and somehow she is more special than the rest of the people who the same thing has happened to?

Her color doesn't matter (to those who you who feel compelled to bring it up), the level of ignorance of her family has nothing to do with it either. This story brings tears to the eyes of readers who live in a fish bowl. The rest of the world sees events in a larger context, simply as one of millions of events with science.

Wow, that article is very interesting. But i also wonder did the fam recive compensation? I mean somebody in that fam might also have immortal cells and that would be kool.

This story is so amazing to me. Did the family ever get any compensation? Are they still using the cells today? How do we know that the doctors didnt kill their mother just to get these cells? I would love to read the book.

Great Article! This is really a very interesting story. I would love to know more & buy this book.I agree that the family deserves to get a share of amount.

As many before me have stated , fascinating, do hope the family get compensated to a degree, got to get the book.

WOW.... This was Very INTERESTING..... What is the name of the book? And where can I get a COPY.

Wow! this article was amazing, it makes you want to buy the book! Its cool to know where everything began.

This is a valuable article historically, especially given that most people do know the origin of the HeLa cells. In a sense these cells have an almost mythical status in biology.

However the author and the writer should have done a better job of doing their legal and medical research.

HeLa cells are "immortal" because they are cancer cells. Cancer cells do not undergo apoptosis, "programmed cell death," and will continuously divide on and on if given the right environment. Most normal cells eventually destroy themselves if they are too old or damaged. But in cancer cells this continuous division leads to a large number of complications which kills the individual.

The sad fact is that back in the day most people died of ovarian cancer, as there was generally no effective treatment for it.

Additionally, although it is sad that this woman was not told that cells were going to be taken from her and used in research, is it an unfortunate fact that this was an extremely common practice back in the day. Up until the 1990s, doctors and scientists regularly took tissue samples from patients without their knowledge. In fact, this was the issue of a lawsuit in the groundbreaking case of Moore v. Regents of California. In that case the courts ruled that a patient has NO PROPERTY RIGHTS over a cell line that was derived from their discarded tissue. Moore had sought treatment for his leukemia, and without his knowledge his discarded cancerous cells were used to create a cell line, which was commercialized and created millions of dollars worth of projects and products.

Whatever you think of the decision in Moore v. Regents of California, what happened to Henrietta Lack also happened to many, many people.

i actually used hela cells today.

Some people must ALWAYS find some racial undertone to everything. This is a fascinating story, why ruin it with race baiting?

i really liked this article, it was interesting but it really made me mad when reading some of the comments doing the whole "if she was white they would have said something sooner" or something in that nature. Its sad some people cant find something out even through science that help people and turn it into something racist, thats why this world is the way it is today.

I appolagize, but this may sound a little morbid...but the first thing that crossed my mind as i read this story was what shape would her body be in if it were exumed. The fact that the "few" cells they kept NEVER died, leads me to believe that the other cells in her body would possibly be the same....is she eternally perfectly preserved? Like everyone else posting comments here, i believe that her family is entitled to benefit from any money made from thier mothers "contribution" to all man kind, and not to be left out in the cold by the medical conglomerants benefiting financially from the discoveries made from "her" cells!!!!

great work!

Henrietta Lacks spirit might be wearing that GREAT smiles now...

Anyway, the family must be proud of her...and definitely, they are entitled for a monetary compensation for this...or whatever help they may require...

I can't wait to buy this book...hope it will be available all over the world...

I think it is amazing to see the Henrietta is a black woman. I know in my Biology class there is no mention of her being a black lady in the book. She even looks like she could possibly be white in the book. I would love to buy this book. Can someone tell me where to buy it? For the two comments stated that Ms. Lack is a "vampire," I think you should keep your comments to yourself. The comments are not funny and no one is laughing with you (just your stupidity). I hope the family were compensated.

Why are her cells immortal? I don't see this in a financial way. I think the family is (should be) more interested in the why's and how's. Personally, I would feel a great sense of pride.

wow i'm 13 an i found that interesting. i have got to tell my science teacher.on the other hand that is toooo freakish. that is totally a book i would want to read i've got to find that book right now.TELL ME WHERE IT IS...TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember writing about Mrs. Lacks back in the early 1990s, when I was working for _Destiny_ magazine. I recognized her picture -- it's the same one we used.

Funny how it takes people so long to catch up!

this is a good scientific adventure,but taking some thing from someone without permission is a criminal act,secondly,i know someone somewhere is making billion of dollar from that black woman cell whose family members are suffering without saying thank you or even compensation package to the family.

With regard to the family sharing in the millions made with research, remember it was not the cells themselves that made so much money, but the research and experiments, including cloning, which also has a very high investment cost. My daughter has a very rare syndrome and has several times freely signed consent forms for research to be done with her tissues with no compensation attached. Because Mrs. Lacks' story is so interesting i would think proceeds from the sale of her story would be the place to start for compensating her husband, if still alive, or if not, then the children, provided they contributed to the telling and research for the story.
I appreciate the author's desire to not villianize scientific research.

Not to offend anyone, but I don't see that Henrietta Lack did very much here. I mean, if we're looking for heroes, let's look for people who actively did something, knowingly, consciously. Yes there's obviously some power and race dynamics at play here. No doubt about that. But until the samples were "taken" and tested, there was essentially NO value to them. I don't know enough about HeLa cells to know if they were absolutely unique (in which case many different cell lines must have been tested and rejectecd, and in a way ALL those other lines should ALSO be "compensated," as being part of the overall scientific endeavor) or if they just happened to be in the right place at the right time. It seems to me that the ones who did the real work and who should be celebrated are those evil "white scientists" who while ONLY interested in reaping huge profits somehow managed to stumble on some actual cures for some actual diseases.

From what I've read here it doesn't seem like there should be any compensation. It's sadly ironic that some of Lack's heirs are living without health coverage, when her cell lines have done so much to advance modern medicine. But I think it's sad that MANY of us are living without health coverage. The answer to the perhaps unethical "taking" of Henrietta's cells should not be to shower riches on ONE family (when their role in the whole affair was essentially accidental). A better legacy would be to see that we are all connected and that we ALL deserve health coverage as a basic human right, not just this single family.

Finally, the idea that the author of this book owes a penny in "royalties" to anybody is LOOPY. Nobody had to talk to her if they didn't want to. Reporters have the right to research a story and publish their findings. Those who so blithely opine that the author should compensate Lack's heirs should really consider the chilling effect such a policy would have on the practice of journalism.

i actually read about this 20 or 25 years ago in an article in Reader's Digest while waiting in a dentist's office. i remember feeling a sense of outrage that the family never received any compensation for the use of the HeLa strain cells. if it truly benfited society to the extent the author implies, they are certainly the LAST family in america that should be living in poverty.

i won't call this a race issue, it's a class issue. property rights are supposed to be so highly regarded in this country, but this case proves that only corporations have those rights assured to them under the rule of law. effectively, in the eyes of the government, individual citizens are not even granted the right of ownership of their own bodies.

this is a miscarriage of justice that must be redressed.

Amazing story. Her family should be proud. Can't wait to read the book. Where can I find it? I hope her family received some monetary compensation.

Im not sure if my post posted soooo......

Hela cells are "immortal" because they are cancer cells. All cancer cells have lost the gene that tells them to stop dividing so they will continue to divide forever if the condition is right. That is why cancer cells create tumors because they continuously divide.

Amazing story... it's too bad that some people can not see the big picture but only dollar signs and playing the race card.

Compensate the famiy. It is the right thing to do. They should not be made to unwittingly pay a cost (not just once but twice) with no renumeration. It is beautiful though what has been accomplished due to Henrietta Lacks' contribution.

i don't read much but this story caught my eye so i began to read.this story truly is remarkable i can say looking forward to the book

First of all I want to thank Henrietta and God Bless the family. I found this to be a very interesting article. I don't think that race played a factor in this. I think there are alot of similar situations involving white people. We just don't know if any of the cells taken contributed as widely as the HeLa cells. For instance I am white and I had a brother born stillborn in the late 50s and when my mom wanted to see him they wouldnt let her. They told her that he was dead and they needed his body for science. They told her she didnt have a choice and that all stillborns were to be kept by the hospital. They took advantage of a young mother and bullied her into leaving him with them. They only let her see him for a few seconds. She was very young and she herself only had a 6th grade education. Now my family grew up poor and we had to make our own way just like any other honest person. It was an unthinkable situation just like Henriettas.

Henrietta earned her recognition there is no doubt but I dont feel like the family should have free health insurance no more than the rest of us poor folk.
You have to work for what you get and you get what you work for. You take any hardworking woman or man from the 50s (black or white) and they were proud and would not accept handouts for something they didnt earn.
If a doctor takes cancer cells out of me I definately dont want them back.....

The number of people asking about compensation to the family is dismaying. With all due respect, why should the family receive money for something they had nothing to do with? Whether the doctor should have received Ms. Lacks' or the family's permission to take a tissue sample has to do with laws AT THAt TIME and nothing to do with paying money to family members NOW. While I don't understand many readers' entitlement attidue, I found the article very interesting! Thank you.

this is a well written book,when is it coming out and what is the title.its a book worth reading.and behold science is beautiful and GOD is awesome.

Well...I believe back in the days there was not a big issue taking a sample of her tissue without her peermission. She had cervial cancer and she would die anyways. Comon guys, if you have cancer in the 50's, you would most likely die.
I agree that she made an invaluable contribution to the science, but her family making law suit and claiming $$$ is ridiculous.The 50's, 60's, 90's and so on are very different period...so get over it!!!!!

I am a cancer doctor and researcher. I was blessed to work with HeLa cells in the lab in undergraduate and graduate school. This woman contributed so much to the understanding of science with a few of her cells.

CONDUCTED RESEARCH CALLED [ TOXICITY STUDIES OF EPOXY RESINS ], I USED HE LA CELLS, WAS TOLD THEY CAME FROM A PATIENT WHO DIED OF CANCER. WHAT A STORY, BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THIS STUDY.

WOW!!! What a GREAT article-just in time for Black History Month!!! I agree that this article/also the book should be required reading for students,regardless of their ethnic background-to prove to the "non-believers" that the Black Race has contributed in many ways to the makings of mankind world-wide,some without recognition!!! I plan to buy this book,and as someone previously mentioned"perhaps Oprah will give it HONORABLE MENTION on her TV Show" Also,I pray the family of Henrietta hasbeen/is being compensated financially for their mother's great contribution to our world. I and ALL of my family salute you Henrietta even though your idenity about your cells, because you were a Black Woman,were hidden from the world-UNTIL NOW!!! BRAVO!!!

i have never an article in full on yahoo or anywhere else online, but once i started this i just couldn't stop... Bravo Sarah... I f you were a writer i will not stop reading your books, this piece is very interesting... btw, i have never ever left comments either on any article online. Good job!

what a gift this woman has given to mankind! thank you henrietta! you would think that some compensation, a royalty for use, could be given to her family. any compensation for colaborating on the book?

Sure...it definetly makes me interested in the book...but it more makes me want to quite going to the doctor!!

To all of those people wondering if the family is entitled to anything such as restitution or a frivolous lawsuit - I only have this to say: You are probably alive today thanks to what that scientist did. And that should be payment enough. Give them a plaque and maybe a dinner and call it a day. Give me a break. What kind of society would we be if the only reason anybody did anything was to garner profit??? Shame shame shame... think before you speak.

I enjoyed this article a great deal. I believe the author did a great job, thank you. Likewise, as I am sure you know, Ms. Henrietta Lacks like so many other Afro & white-American people of the day were subjected to horrible medical experiments. Please note, medical experiments in Mississippi, Alabama, University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)....

This is such an incredible story. Immortal cells! Who knew?! Its so sad that her family couldn't understand the importance of their Mom's contribution. The actions of the scientists toward the family disturbs me.

what an amazing story...
I just hope that Henrietta Lacks' family would get something... for them to live comfortably...

Yes,

This story is just another example of using people of color as uncompensated and unethical guinea pigs. If all the secrets of medical research were exposed it would cause a catastrophe. Those doctors, as well as the author is completely soul-less. End of story.

Great story! But how about the fact that the cells were taken without permission and used successfully in scientific research? Shouldn't they compensate the family? I shudder to think that this may just have been one of those conspiracy things that America is fostering on its own people to rob them of their rights. And those attempts at bullying third world countries to give up their intellectual property rights in the name of scientific research? If you take something, you give something back. I hope the family has been rightly compensated and formally acknowledged to have helped the scientific community and the world.

WOW!!!! I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW TODAY. VERY INTERESTING...I NEVER EVEN HEARD OF HER. BUT I'M GLAD HER CELLS ARE AROUND TO HELP US TODAY, AS WELL AS IN THE FUTURE. :)

nice story, but nobody owes the mother or descendants any money. you dont have a property interest in "cells" collected like a cancer tumor. Once you willingly "give up" excised tissue, you no longer have ANY property rights to the tissure.
google search greenberg vs miami childrens hospital.
also look at moore vs regents of university of california.
these are landmark cases that pretty much decided these issues.

its a nice story, because a black person is involved, and people always like to say the white man put down the black man...but it isnt the case.

its can get more complicated when the tissue is from two people (an embrio), but for the case at stake...they are not owed any money.

I have recently wondered if cancer might be spread through the air. I know a pulmonologist who died from Lung Cancer and never smoked. Another pumonologist died from Stomach Cancer. I wonder if during their surgeries, cancer cells were inhaled and maybe that's how they acquired cancer. Now, I am even more curious since Henrietta's cells were found in dust particles! At any rate, I am an African American woman and I am very proud that Henrietta contributed to science in this way. My only hope is that the family will be compensated and that now it is mandatory that patients give consent prior to be enrolled in a scientific test!

awesome story...

Nice. Somebody needs to pay the family.

PAY THE FAMILY! PERIOD!

excellent just excellent, i want the book asap. i hope the family got something from this

Incredible story ! Life - cells.

I think it is Terrible thou that her family did not Know, scientist were experimenting with her mother cells,after all these years.
And made $$$$ off Henrietta Lacks Body.

As much as we all thrive on scientific research done everyday in laboratories to help human race survive, it is sad how ignorance can lead to greater difficulties for families involved in such research.

I love the story. I think that scientists still have a lot to find out about the existence of human being. This may be a great way to start.

I'm taking Microbiology, Genetics, and biotech class. I was just reading about this in the book. When I went to Yahoo, a link to this article was part of the headline. I click on and just decided to email this link so I can print it out to show to my professor tomorrow. This article looks so freakin cool.

I've been working on HeLa cells for over two year now and those are a HECK of a culture!

While I am thankful that Henrietta cells were available towards new discoveries, I am sadden and dissapointed of the way it was made available. Because of this, I believe that the family should be compensated greatly! Interesting article, but even the writer of this book is making money off of Henrietta story and not the family, again.

very interesting

great story,unforgetable

Please don't publish my full name. You can use Carl or C. Purv, or some short version like that.

This is really an interesting story and particularly to me, since I'm 77 and my body will be donated for study to the local med school. I wanted to be an organ donor, but now understand that donor organs are not accepted from donors my age. That's O.K., too, but now I'm more iterested in the benefits my cells, tissues, etc. may offer to make life easier for someone in the future and possibly aid in developing new medicines or treatments that can help others. Thank God for what has been learned from Henrietta.

wow!..this is a breath-taking story i ever read in a lifetime..knowing that many lives being saved by this "hela cells" which came from human cells is a great story..thank you for the wonderful story ms. rebecca skloot for being a good researcher and a writer..i must say thank you also to ms, henrietta lacks for saving lots of lives..mabuhay!..on behalf of the filipino people, i must say "THANK YOU HENRIETTA"

Today I thought I'd learn something about Black History. Didn't know what or when but I am glad it was this along with the celebration of the F.W. Woolworth ceremony. Thank you!!!

This was an interesting article. It clearly points out to important details to me. One thing is that some people comment about it being about money and that is all the family care about. Honestly the scienctist were dishonest, by stealing a tissue sample, one because they looked at her as just a poor uneducated black woman, who wouldnt know what was going on. Which was wrong. The sample helped create a vaccine and so on, but these men knew it would generate millions of dollars, and they were greedy making these discoveries and not being thankful to this family and compensating them, considering that they new times were hard for the family, and there loss of a wife and mother. i do not blame the family for being upset. In the same aspect im sure the family is thankful what there mom contributed to many and millions of people. The writer states its not about racism, but i ask the writer how could this not be about racism and greed? My blessing and prayers go out to her family and hope that they are acknowledge and thanked they way they should of been in the first place.

what a story! Amazing!

Great piece. And yes, the family deserves to be compensated. Largely compensated. There's nothing wrong with this, as it happens all the time with medical malpractice, which is exactly what this case is. We're not usually made aware of them. Mrs. Lacks was disrespected, while dying from cancer, because of racial (and gender) politics of the 1950s. When we still had colored water fountains. Those existed in the 1950s too, but at least now most people would think those were wrong. So are the actions of the doctors directly involved, the hospital administration, and all the companies that bought the cells and applied a code of silence on both the purchase and use of the cells to Mrs. Lacks' family for decades. This is not a case of a black person getting money for nothing, or a tragic yet inspiring story that needs to invoke affirmative action anger. Redress the wrong done to Mrs. Lacks in the 1950s by making her story more than well known, and compensate the family for this egregious case of malpractice. In the meanwhile, let's celebrate this woman, who, while not being able to choose to be a great part of history and saving millions of lives, nevertheless has been and should be respected in a way denied her sixty years ago.

Too bad!taking even a little piece of a womans body without asking permission to the concern is unhuman. even the cells is very useful but the fact that the scientist is not asking permission is not good example.then other people makes a lot of money from it and the family is still suffering from poverty. To the family of Herietta Lacks, fight for it you have all the rights!

I have always worried that someday I would have to pay for my excellent health. I never had any of my childhood dieases and didn't avoid my children when they had them. I never missed a day of school in 12years due to sickness. I worked for the same company for 36years and never missed a day to sickness.I am 71years 0ld and just got the results of my physical-eccellent.My doctor says I must have some good genes. My question is,would they be interested in studing my cells? I think it would be a honor to do something like that for humanity before I die.why wouldn't we want to save lives?

I guess the first thing I want to say is, Thank you Henrietta! God Bless you! I'm sure you are watching from above.
What a difference she has made to us all. Great story. I feel it only right the family should be compensated. People can buy the rights to songs others have done and receive royalties. Writers can get compensation for plagiarized works. How can anyone argue her family is not entitled to a percentage of all these transactions? It was done without consent. Henrietta never signed over anything.
I will definitely read the book! Wishing the best to all her family!

This family should be paid for their mothers cells. What the researchers did was stealing.Someone should go to jail for this act.This is about more than research.!!!! I am mad as hell about this!!!!!!

Wow, nearly everyone who commented here (including her some members of her family, according to the article) sees dollar signs! As if something like this can be equated to dollars and cents. Not everything in this world carries a dollar sign! The doctors took tumor tissue. It wasn't like they took a piece of her healthy brain or her healthy bone tissue and sold it. It was diseased tissue, and doctors remove this kind of tissue all the time from patients...and don't pay them! If anything, I hope that the author of this book gives the ones in the family who were willing to work with her some compensation for sharing their story. It is a fascinating story, and I look forward to reading the book when it comes out!

YES Confirmation i heard that after extensive studies that humans have nothing in our DNA that tells us to age. grow and mature yes but not age so i figured the only reason we age is because we believe it and therefore of course the cells can be immortal for there is no brain to tell them to age and die.

This is such a great story. I'm very amazed on cells works now. I love this story and I hope that you find more stories like this. Thank you for sharing this story.

Pretty lady, handsome husband, beautiful contribution to science, tenacious researcher, great comments. Praise be to GOD the creator!

22o b to? or jst part of the book?

They are immortal cells because they are cancer cells. Cancer cells have lost the gene that programs them to stop dividing. Hela cells like all cancer cells will always divide that is why they are immortal.

Sarah, Wow that was a great article. Thank you so much for caring about and researcing history. The family should be honored her cells were of beneficial value to those in need. Janet

Wow, it is a one of a kind story, amazing, hope to get that book. It sounds scary though,It reminds me of movies like resident evil, dawn of the dead, were cells leave though the body is dead. So, scary.

This is a very interesting article. Now I want to read the book!!

another reason why african american are skeptics of medical research.

It's awful that Mrs. Lacks had no knowledge of this act and now her cells are being sold. Her family should never give up the fight for 1/2 of the money earned in the sale of Mrs. Lacks cells. They are entitled to 1/2 and pain and suffering since her children didn't have the opportunity to know her. If complete strangers to the family can earn money off of her cells and their invaluable research they have provided for the human race, then they should be able to collect. Go Lack Family and NEVER give up!!!!

that is freeky but amazing

I glance at the picture and kept going to facebook but something about it had me going back to the story and wow what a story! I am looking for the book soon as i get off here.The things that some people do to keep things under wraps.I hope the family fights and get every penny they deserve.the man buried his wife once now he and the family have to deal with this.Some people just dont have a heart that they was born with to do this.

I just read most of the comments posted so far. What a diverse colection of facts opinions and rebuttal.Please stop to think where we would be if the cells were not used... and this type of cell went undiscovered. I venture to say life as we know would be very diffrent for all of us.This transends race, gender and every other hurdle mankind faces and has faced. Have you ever seen or known a person thats contracted polio? or a host of other diseases including cancer research just in itsself... can you really comprehend the ramifacations of what this has brought to the table for ALL of us? giving back knowing or unknowing is human nature in its purest form. Has anyone ever reached out to help , honestly help some one even if they appeared to not need it. and ask for somthing in return??... this lady died from the same culture that was taken from her iand it gave life to millions i doubt she would have asked for money or even excepted any if she was told what would be possible to accomplish with the sample .please think about it it didnt matter what color she was that never was and issue till now in the perverted minds of people that want all they can get with no cost to themselves.

Oh My God! (OMG)this is amazing! incredible! how could it be that a cancer patient cells had lived for so long...imagine 25 years!!! the people behind this research should give some monetary compensation to the family of the late Henrietta Lacks (peace be with her)...this story must get a prize from the publisher...long live!

SIMPLY ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW AFRICAN AMERICANS, BEFORE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, WERE MANIPULATED & TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF PROPER EDUCATION & ACCESS INFORMATION.. SMH, WHITE PPL!! --THANK YOU MRS. HENRIETTA LACKS--

My aunt is a teacher and she's read the book,the Lack's family is not entitled to anything,because Henreitta was compensated for her time,she just wasn't told about what was being done with her cells. Besides she didn't even know what a cell was, she was a poor black woman living on a tobacco farm. Should the companies(most of which didn't exist yet in 1951) that benefit from doing research on her cells have to compensate her children and grandchildren after she's been dead for 50+ years? Of course not. Besides the law(s) are in their favor regarding this issue anyway.

Would make a great lifetime movie.

Very interesting and commended for reading for such a person contributes to our scientific research and commendable to everyone's knowledge and capabity.

an absolutely unbelievable story! wow, her cells never died. makes me wanna buy d' book!!!! whoa...

wow! very interesting and lots of good info. A real eye opener for people too. This would be great for a based on a true story movie. The family would be able to benefit from it.
Thanks for this interesting story.

Well hello everyone and im going to be on this site only to post comments and answer's.Ok first off her cells are unique and interesting but theres always curious nature in interest so any questions get to me on dr.drew_help1@yahoo.com

...Thank you and Goodbye.

Inform consent procedure should have followed. However, it was good insight on science part. The article is well written. The is a nice way to start black history month. The book will be a must read for me. Hopefully, Henrietta's family got compensated.

wow very nice and interesting story, hope after all it can really be a source of cure and help to a lot of diseases now a days...we should honor Mrs, Lacks the source of amazing Hela cells,and i think it is just right to give something to the family in honor of Mrs. Lacks i think she would be happy in heaven if her family is ok as well as those who have benefited her amazing Hela cells or Heal cells...

this is so sad that this lady died but we love her in are heart she will be there for are life i love that how did she die but i did not enough of the story

Thank you Rebecca for such an amazing book and the findings of a great woman that will forever change the world. You are an amazing women for writing and getting it publishe for the world to see and learn. The family must be in awe of you. The family is sooo deserving of an outpouring in generosity wether it be gifts of love, concerns or moneys that is definetely deserving to them

OMG!!!! this is amazing i need the book nd i need o know if the family got their deserved money! now i have to take a bio class & learn more!!!

very good storie. it may help someone . im very much into true medical inforamation that can help people to prove there life. sicence has come along way

Let's not tarnish scientific advances by calling it a race issue.

VOW IT IS A WONDERFULL EXPERIMENT AND AMAZING RESULT.

Wonderful story! But, by the way! I hope the family was compensated! Especially after the scientist have taken a tissue sample from her without her/and families consent! - That is so sad!!!

wrong,technically they are "immortal". the reason being is that they are cancerous cells, and cancerous cells multiply rapidly uncontrollably which seem like they're immortal. right they can die eventually but there's just going to more replacing the ones that have died.

The family should get free medical care in perpetuity from John Hopkins. That is only fair.

Reading this article makes me want to read this book ASAp, when is the book coming out can't wait to buy, I sure the family got something out of it, or they probably still waiting.. Tis sounds like a supreme court hearing..

is this book already available in amazon or e bay???????

sounds interesting.....

Will Henrietta's family ever be compensated? It would be the right thing to do.

I first read about this story in Oprah's magazine. I was really quite fascinated with it. I, too, would like to know if the family was ever compensated. I do plan on purchasing the book. I hope her cells will become a viable part in the cure for cancer.

We are wonderfully made! We cannot be created by man...our cells may be manipulated and studied by man....but not created! Wow what a story...!

This story is super interesting and opens the door to many questions.I did make an observation though,not one single reference to god in this very extensive list of comments is it possible that most religious people are not interested in science and therefore are so blinded by faith they don't want to hear anything that might shed light on the many THINGS WE DO NOT KNOW??????????????

This was a very good article. I currently work in the medical field and know the benefits of HeLa cells and the research that was done with them. I would like to say some of the terms in the article and comments bothered me. In the 1950's, scientists didn't steal tissue, it was very common practice to take pieces of tissue from anything unusual removed from patients as a way of learning from it. Has it not occurred to some of you that the cervical cancer she died from still exists and has no cure! Even today, most people are not compensated for giving to science. It doesn't matter what race we are and making this about race is really sad. This is about science and the need. We are much more careful now and laws are in place for this not to happen today, but no one was trying to "harm" this woman. Her cells along with many others have helped us more then most people can ever know.

Vampire cells

From what I've read the cells were not donated for scientific purposes, they were harvested by DOCTORS. If they were taken and used for any purpose other than trying to help the poor woman get better from her cancer it was wrong.

To profit and then hide the fact that this woman's cells were used in such an unethical way highlights all that is wrong with the scientific and business community. The fact that they lied over and over again about who she really was indicates that they knew that their actions were wrong and possibly criminal.

Grea Article....... I love it!!!!! :D

The Henrietta Lacks story and legacy has fascinated me for years. I've written about it too in a book of poetry that addresses the history of African-American medicine titled "Elegy for a Scarred Shoulder" (2008, Aquarius Press.) Bravo to the Smithsonian for publishing this article and to Rebecca Skloot for a project that is long overdue. Karen S. Williams, author of "Elegy for a Scarred Shoulder." www.kswpoetry.com

Science can be very intriguing at times. amazing...

Great Story...

Great story! I personally know Henrietta Lack's grandson.

I feel if she had agreed to donate the cells hoping science could learn from them, possibly even find a cure...many of us would look at this story differently. In this situation, her cells were taken without consent of any kind. I think it is important that we realize the difference between donated tissue/cells vs stolen tissue/cells.
I plan on being an organ donor. This of course means donating my organs. If something from my body can help mankind, I think that would be great! I would not expect for my family to be compensated. I would feel differently about that, if my organs were taken without my consent of donating them!
Since hers were taken without consent, I would like to see a Memorial Fund set up where a percentage of the proceeds from the story benefits her spouse and children...and possibly even a percentage going torwards a scholarship (named in her honor)for those who want to study to find a cure!

The government should award the remaining relatives a grant, bc of this family for their contibution to modern medical science. Their genetics have saved countless lives and have made countless advances available

I would like to thank Ms. Skloot for her persistance in following this story and uncovering the truth. This story is another example of how Black America has been ripped-off all these years of their accomplishments. Granted, Mrs. Lack did nothing by died and gave the medical community a map to many medical discoveries. Shame on everyone that took part in this cover-up and not recognizing this Black Woman and depriving her family and the world of this knowledge. Again thanks, Ms Skloot and I will certainly purchase the book.

very noble, but it seems to me that this family was and is being treated like miss henrietta lack was, a black guinea pig, with no name, no respect, no compensation. I am ashamed of the american mentality at work here, glossing over this families plight, and profitting from their misery(typical). These folk are owed big time. I won't ask how these people can sleep at night, it is in their upbringing and make up, no mystery there.

People can be so typical at times. Getting angry, wanting compensation and for what? For those who are concerned whether the family did in fact receive any financial restitution can buy the book, but before doing so make sure a percentage of the proceeds are going to the family. I feel the scientific community did this to gain knowledge not financial gain. This is the land of opportunity, not compensation!

It's amazing the cover ups that go on because of racism and racial biases. I used to live next door to a man whose father was the creator of the vaccinations we all received as children. This guy had a job at Frito-Lay, but he also owned 2 cash paid Corvettes. He eventually married and began a family, sold his house in our middle class neighborhood and bought property (a small estate) for his family to grow into. Often in medical science it saddens me to hear and see the vulturism that goes on because of race. Why wasn't this (black) family able to benefit the way I saw my (white) neighbor benefit? He was able to live his life in peace and prosperity because of his father's contributions to medical science, so shouldn't it be the same for the Lacks'? Even the author of the article tries to imply the family became consumed with retribution. She's making money via this book and its sales, why shouldn't the children and husband be compensated for loss and the bravery it takes to overcome that loss while understanding what their mother's miracle will do for others? Why should race matter when the world is being saved?

Very interesting article. I think the family is owed money and much more, like an explanation. I would buy the book. Where can we purchase it.

I'm a white American, veteran also. How many people receive blood transfusions so they can live in war or after an accident or a major operation? Do you think that a white so ldier who needs blood cares if a black American gives it to him or vice versa? I doubt it, and if the truth be known we would find out in a hurry that some of us have received blood from someone black or white. Human bodies don't care what color the outer skin of the person is, all it cares about is getting what liquid or solid it needs to continue to operate and live.

What Henrietta had done is now wonderful for us all, but she died so others could live but not of her own choice, researchers the decision to investigate and take a piece of her tumor which resulted in these discoverys, many corporations have made large sums of money because of the tissue removal, and her family should have been given compensation before the companies CEO's and Vice Presidents received bonuses as a result of the research paying off.

wow, this is like totallty AMAZING!!!!!!!!! When does the book come out, i would like to buy 2 copies, or is it already out? i cant get enough of this story.

WONDERFUL find. A job well undertaken.

Very informative - I'm going to introduce this into out Black History Bulletin Board at church. Thank you.

What an amazing story!

This article let me thank God for Institutional Review Boards (IRB). It is appalling how people's rights were violated in the name of research. Race and poverty are certainly issues here, and I hope the family never rests until they are well compensated.
I don't think there is anything cool about profiting from people's body parts without their knowledge. What happens to morals? The scientists could at least inform the familyof their intent, or of what they did.

scary yet interesting story!! i have watch a mini series drama like this here in the Phils. produce by ABS-CBN channel 2 titled "my last romance" cast by luis manzano and toni gonzaga.. so when i read the word immortal i cNT STOP TO REA THIS

wow... what a life story for Hela and her family. Though I feel that her family should get what they deserve and live a more decent life, for the world truly owes big time from their mother.

Oddly enough..I just read about this last night on Ripley's Believe it or Not..I liked their version of the story better..

http://www.ripleys.com/blog/henrietta-lacks-immortal/

I have the same questions as Julie Hearn. What was it about her cells that cured polio? If that is true, why are we just hearing about it now? Is the author saying that the vaccination was made using the HELA cells?

What is it about her cells that they are referred to as "immortal?"

How do they still have them, are the scientists able to make exact replications of the cells? I too am going to buy this book. I just hope it answers my questions, I want to learn more about this subject.

Of course if these cells made millions of dollars the family should have been compensated. That's a no-brainer.

What a wonderful story, when we heared a story we intend to find out what is the story about, well now i know, not only Obama is the only black person that contribute to black people story. thanks HENRIETTA LACK, REST IN PEACE.

Great Story... Wow I want to know more

This is a Wow!!! story, I will look for this book!

Science has always fascinated me and now you have only made my curiousity even greater. Thank you for being interested in something that has opened all of our eyes.

This i must say has been a very interesting read. This would have seriously tickle my brain. Is it to say that people who have uncommon diseases are likely to have a similar tissue response. I am not even scientifically inclined and my brain is running with theories. This was a real interesting story and the first i can call hearing of Henrietta Lack. I really hope to hear more. Gone for a google search

Very interesting story!...

The good thing is that she has helped saving millions of life. At the same time it's too sad and ironic that some of their relative have been living in such a poorness, while this people have been making such a lot of money for years and no caring about them.

The scientific practically stole her cell's without her permission, as I understand! Can anyone think what this scientist could have done to may other people?

Now, on the scientist track, how could these cells never die and continue multiplying? Every life "has" to die.

Why can these not be good yet for HIV and other lethal diseases?

Anyhow, the story is really interesting and I hope the family is rewarded now!

Thank you Rebecca. You have opened our eyes to a hidden truth. I am wonderng how many more stories like this are left burried in some museum somewhere? Black people have contibuted so much to the advancement of the human race,
but are not given the recognition they deserve. Is it due to fear or the thought that one(human race) is better than the other and anything to prove otherwise must be erased? The younger generaton must read this book so our legacy can be preserved through the ages. THIS IS POWERFUL!!!

God Bless "Henrietta Lacks" & family. My prayers go out to all exploited people. I believe the subject is about THEFT & human rights) for Henrietta. If any human cells, body parts are relinquished voluntarily-donor beware! Why was Henrietta's tissue stolen? Profits earned go to scientists/doctors/publishers and them only without dispute. (The tissue was stolen with diabolical motive.) Companies produce false information about water...that is supposed to be good for you, but is poisoned. (Movie-Erin Brachovich) Profit not gained through moral means are immoral. Also, Hopkins hospital-came back to this family for further uncompensated(dangerous?)research. Studies are financed by Gov't grants, billions still earned by Pharma-medical companies.(American $$$.) Don't give me that BULL about sciencetist doing something altruistic--for mankind. This crime was perpetrated in 5o's so most Blacks weren't treated in White hospitals! Treatment was given at hospitals that accepted Blacks only-segregation. Did Henrietta receive proper medical attention...NO!. Most White scientists,etc. in 1950, didn't consider Blacks equal, so she & her family were used in unpaid-scientific experiments. Proceeds for books/movies/etc, should go to the moral "owner" of the cells. This family needs a good law firm. The moral owners of HELA cells are Henrietta's family,her cells were stolen, not donated & are still being sold. Historically, theives benefit using inhumane techniques in the name of science. Hopefully this diatribe, will stir awareness that these tecniques are used in hospitals today. (Organ Donors/tissue) Hospitalized Americans should demand all tissues be returned to owner. (No free samples) If we want to sell tissue I'm sure there's a buyer. If we decide not to sell...it's our choice. Medicine/science then as now, builds wealthy empires on the downtrodden backs people. Moral conscience, profit & restitution is the question. Angeli Sherley-Black Female in America.

thts a great article.wow!

Interesting and very informative topic...thus it is regretful to those who made profit/sell/experimented the cells, without giving knowledge to the family because they are poor or black people?

Good piece. I'm on my way to Powell Bookstore now.

Thank you Henrietta Lacks and family. I think the world owes you and should pay your family royalties and put your kids, kids though schooling. Pease out!

Reading positive things in the news like this makes me LOVE my major! I am currently a college student with a major in Biology and I have a test in the morning about this very topic. While I was "taking my break" from studying I came across this article and I found it very informative, interesing, and entertaining! It was a good excuse to take a break. It is so fascinating how the simplest form of life can help save many lifes!

This was good work on your behalf, congratulations and thank you!

Thanks for writing this beautiful article .I loved it ,I can't wait to buy the book.

Is it true?

This is really interesting story.. I'd love to read this book soon....

well this is a very nice article.the word immortal made it interesting,

Great artacle. I would like to read the book too!

Please please people get ahold of your selfs you all sound like a bunch people looking for the fountain of youth.In the next life you will get your immortality, wether it will be a pleasant one or a painful one. Try to remember how you behave here on this planet, and how you treat all your fellow human beings, because this will have a lot to do with where you will spend your desired immortality.

Many of the comments on this article are ridiculous.

First, as many have stated, the biopsy was taken in the 1950s. The medical regulations we have today were not in place then, hence the use of the cells without permission. This would not happen today, so no need to worry about your cells being used without permission (doctors/researchers need your consent). Using human samples/specimens is strictly regulated (in the US atleast) and many, many hours go into receiving approval.

Second, the reason the researchers didn't provide her name originally was for privacy reasons, not because she black. Today researchers usually don't know the names of the samples they receive. This is so you can't google them and/or contact them. Patient info is kept private to prevent family members from being called and thinking that their wife is being kept in a lab as a lab animal years after you laid her to rest. It also prevents people from thinking they are owed monetary reward. Millions of people have donated cells to science just as Henrietta did, everyone's contribution is the same. Patients can't control what experiment their cells are destined for after they have been collected.

Third, the doctor and/or researchers didn't harvest Henrietta's cells with the intention of selling them. They cultured the cells and realized they could be an excellent research tool. These cells rapidly divide so they can easily be grown and passed from researcher to researcher. Eventually it was realized that the cells could be frozen and sold. There is a not a single person who has made billions off of Henrietta, but instead the cell culture industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. There are thousands of cell lines, not just HeLas.

This is a very fastcinating story we have to be very thank this full for this lady cell and what science was able to achive,but moral taken her cell without her famlily promission was wrong,those who has profit of this ordeal should rightfully compensate her famly.

This is a very interesting story. Her immediate family should be compensated. Her life was put here for a reason and her cells were left here for a reason.I also would like to read the book. The journalist did an awsome job of getting this information to a book.

I almost forgot...the families are more than deserving to receive bucoo bucks for all that has taken place/discovered. Whatevere the color of their skin they are deserving to receive compensation for the use of the cells when they were not even aware that it had been taking place for years and years. They have the rigtht to be compensated because the government was funding the money for scientists to use Ms. Lacks cells and deliberately ignored to tell let alone ask the families. What a shame our country has become after all these yrs. One would think segregation/desegregation was a horrific time in the colored peoples lives but this here is just an unbelievable crying shame to the present generations. God bless the families.

I'll be dog gone.

Heart-felt analysis by Rebecca Skloot. I want to BUY this book!!!

If immortal cells don't mean immortal life I don't care.

Wow C. Frazier, spoken like a true American. Who cares about the beneficial scientific impact, can the family sue?! THAT is the attitude that is ruining America.

That is truly incredible. Her family deserves compensation if they haven't been compensated yet. Would that qualify her for sainthood, or was this gods way of ensuring they eventually paid her family for this? Hmmm....

And then someone will write a fiction book about a clone human derived from these cells and call it a HeLa monster.

(The Gila Monster is a lizard)

I think her relatives would be due royalties on such a book for using her "name" in such a non-scientific manner without their permission, so let's keep a watch for them. While parody is protected by the First Amendment, the woman was not a monster.

im so amaze about the true story what is really in the cell?
i dont know anything about medicine but most of my father relatives are medicine,think they know about these? and also i have tumor but i dont think it seriously.i feel so sad to the family why all these years cell culture sciencetist didnt give them what the family of HL deserve

This is a instersting story. But to lighten up on some of the harsh things said about greed. I am Sick of a lot of things what Lab wants my Cells.

There's nothing else in the world quite like African mitochondrial (maternal) DNA!

Its is amazing to read such selfish views on this subject.

America is is serious trouble......if this education system is producing such sad beliefs.

The truth is a s follows:

"Just guess, Think you can put a number on how many lives the HeLa cell alone has saved?"

Well if that photo is of M/M Lacks. They sure are well dressed and a beautiful couple for being uneducated crop farmers from the south. She is even wearing fur !

FAIR SHARE, AS WE ALL BENNIFIT FROM ONE FAMILIES TRAGIDY.
RESEACHERS SHOULD COMPINSATE THE FAMILY FOR WHAT WAS TAKEN WITHOUT PERMISSION.

For the person who claims to have been in sales for a period of time. (Three decades according to you.) I am astonished that you have the nerve to be condesending yourself as if three decades has taught you everything. You said you sized up your customers before choosing a level of speeh. What if you were wrong at least 1/4 of the time? I have no doubt that you think that a person with a lower level of education is in need of your a "dumbing down" way of communication. He may be a bright man with little education and a little honest expination might have done the trick. As for the welrare comment "stick it". This family has been robbed of what could have been a different life. Then they may have been educated enough to dumb down speech to you had they been rightfully or even fairly compensated. If there was nothing wrong with what the doctor did or how he himself profited, why did he not come forth and contact the family, starting with Henrietta? Look, this country has been built on the efforts of people who wanted a better life for themselves and their families. You lie, if you claim you would not come forth to claim your share of what could be billions. This is not an issue of black and white, but rather right and wrong. This family was wronged and they deserve compensation. There sould be no shame on the familys behalf, for wanting and even expecting, compensation. After all Henrietta died and through that, thousands have lived because of her unwitting contribution to science. That in itself deserves some recognition. Henriettas whole name was not even used durring the long period of research, thereby avoiding the recognition she so richly deserves. I am sure the family of the doctor who took her cells lived fairly well, or better. Why shouldn't hers? In this persons opinion (and many others I might add.) They deserv a portion of the profits because her cells were STOLEN from her and her family.

It great story never told, more should be revealed and eventually truth told concerning the mystery of this cells.

Am I missing something? This woman had a piece of her essence stolen and distributed to save lives....her name not even recoginized....her family living on the streets while many strangers have profited!! Another shining example of Black people being exploited with no compensation or the least amount of respect.....SOS

"The cells are not "immortal" per se, they are just capable of surviving the "rough" conditions of the period in which they were harvested. They culture/growth of cells at the time was not as advanced or as promising when attempted at the time because the methods weren't as refined." I'm quoting my Grandfather with those comments, at 98 I think he has a rather wide experience with modern medicine having recieved his doctorates at 26, 76 years of theoretical and applied research in medicine (and engineering, he recieved his second Masters at 34).
"Also, it has been in my experience that most cells can become airborne (we constantly slough off skin cells all day long, the chances of becoming "infected" with with cancer are", I've just been told, "slim and a "snowballs chance in hell". They are not (cancer cells) a contagious disease to be passed from individual to individual" (with very few exceptions I must interject here, cervical cancer ((some form, mine is not a medical degree)) transmitted to a woman from a man through intercourse is actually caused by a virus so it is not neccesary to correct me here I'm not too "ignorant" thank you.).
Also the answer to whether or not they recieved funds from the harvesting of the cells and subsequent research is a matter for the courts, it was not common practice in those days to pay people for samples taken from them when used for diagnosis, now that is not to say the original intention was or was not for diagnosis, we have to give the doctor the benifit of doubt and the plausable idea that perhaps after the samples were taken the idea was posed to try and culture them in the hopes they would be viable as so many others at the time had not been so.
Mrs. Skloot, an interesting story, thank you.

If they weren't compensated shame on us! Even an endowment for the future kids education would mean alot.

What do they mean by "her cells never died".

The author should explain the normal life cycle of tumor cells, which I don't feel like researching.

Are the cells from her tumor different than other human cells? If so, why?

This is an amazing story of Henrietta Lacks " immortal cells ( Hela cells ), that change science and without it we would not be where we are now. i think her family should be compasated for life, that way they are given back for what was gained through her.

I have a dumb idea about ways we can help out to honor her spirit and contribute something to her family. How about requesting the publisher to donate a little portion of the book profit to set a non-profit foundation to honor her, also support her family, and cancer medical research?

It seems to me that if money is being made on her cells, her family should certainly be given some of that money, particularly since they need it very much, and there was never informed consent in this case. Peace,
Shira

Could someone do a little research on how these cells had came to mutate into Immortal cells... I would do it myself but I don't have the resources to do it...

But my point to this is, if there was a way in which these cells mutated into something Immortal, and I don't know if it's unique about the cells differentiating traits into other cells through the air... but that may lead to traced mutation... Idk, it's a good opening for an invention... =P

I will have to read the book to make an educated assumption. As for the HeLa cells, without this woman's unknowing contribution, she has unknowingly helped millions of others.
I do hope that the author will be giving some of the proceeds from this book to the family. Espeically the daughter that helped her find more information and more family members.
There are a few other questions that cross my mind at the moment but I will have to read the book before I can ask these questions because some of the answers may be in there.

What an amazing story. It is history, medical breakthroughs, mystery, humanizing, and lovingly written by Rebecca Skloot. I am excited to read the book and hopefully be able to know the real lady behind all this controversy. She has left her legacy without even knowing about it, greed, yes by the ones who did this, but what a legend of information they have given to us in the field of medicine, and done without the FDA, I hope, who blocks everything besides big Pharma and much of that is bad meds and misinformation. I am so thankful that this has been revealed to all Americans who want to know why, like stem cell research, cannot be used to help those who truly need it. I may not see the answers in my lifetime, but this is truly exciting news for us. I would love to know the real lady who did not know what she has done for us with her cells. May her soul rest in peace and may we find out real answers to health mysteries. I will be looking forward to reading the complete book on HeLa. Her relatives do deserve monetary compensation from the ones who took her cells without permission and I do think they should have to pay for using her cells all these years. Thank you for your gutsy reporting on this wonderful article... I can't wait to read your book.. Thank you.

As an African-American woman, I am literally blown away by how dismissive the author appears when referring to the reaction of Herietta's sons. So just because they didn't take an altruistic position and say "Well, don't worry about the fact that the cells of our mother spawned a multi-billion dollar industry. Forget the fact that her tissue was taken without her knowledge or consent and her family can't even afford access to the heathcare innovations made possible by the tissue. We're just glad we could help." Am I the only one who is reminded of the Tuskeegee Experiment when reading about this? Growing up, my granbdmother's generation which was the same as Henrietta's was very distrustful. The longer I live and the more stories like this come to light, the more I realize they had a reason to be cautious.

dear god this is amazing with good science life can be immortal

This is an awesome story! I love her picture she looks beautiful. Her cells have shaped science. I will be looking for this book.

... wow, that's amazing... ^^

This is a very interesting story! I cannot wait to read the book. I'd like to know more about the family and how they endured through this ordeal. The most shocking is some else selling the cells for money and the family getting none. Sad but true.

Regardless of the intended medical benefits,just like with any other medical procedure or Organ donation CONSENT should be obtained.

Isn't this the case where you are supposed to agree (without pressure) to donate your body(or parts of it) to science or to help others.

If your body parts (or cells) were procured (not donated) with or without your knowledge and used in such a way that jumpstarts a multi-billion dollar industry, shouldn't you or your family be entitled to some share (residuals)? Or at least science and the companies recognize the contribution of HeLa cells to their work and agree on some form of compensation for the immediate family.

Its sad that while HeLa cells were used to further develop medicines (that may cost a lot) the family of the person where the cells came from are not doing well. This is not to say that all of the family members should be getting support for life but to get acknowledgement of the contribution of their family member to health care. Maybe support for her sons and daughters.

Great story. Cant wait to get the book and read more about these immortal HeLa cells..Thanks Henrietta. Truely amazing.

my goodness what a great story. i want to learn more and can't wait till i can read the book. and i also wish good rewards for her family. they deserve it.

if the hela cells are responsible for a polio vaccine, could it be possible that henriettas family has already been compensated? did any lack offspring have polio? what is that worth? who wants to sue a scientist that comes up with a polio vaccine? what if henrietta would have wanted to be part of a cure? looks like there is alot to this story, and looks to me like it has come full circle.

the only way to knw if the family got the MONEY is to get the book. even if the fam. got 10% of the money they mite b the richs people in the world

This is definately a facinating story. There was a lot of learning points in it as well.
It was very informative but also left you asking enough questions to make you want to continue on in to the book its self.
In regaurd to her family, I to think that they should be paid royalties on the money that is and has been generated from their mother's unwhitting but fortunate participation in this bit of valuable medical history. Her whole family should be set for life.
The problem is that some blood thirsty attorney will end up with 1/3rd of the family's money. (The pun was intended)

Rich

Great piece of information. Makes me wanna write a song about immortal cells lol!!!

I enjoyed this bit of the story. I learned about this about 2 years ago when I was taking a Biology class. I am 50 and going back to school. If I am not mistaken, I do not think there was anything mentioned about the person being black. But the cells were discussed and her name was mentioned. I am interested in the book. I really hope the family was given the money they deserved for the use of their mother's cells.

This is a great story; looking forward to the book or even a movie.

This is Amazing

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Hello Rebecca Skloot, what a moving piece of great information. I feel every person should be aware of any human testing. Although, I realize that this type of behavior went on during the this time and earlier with merican black people, such an inhuman act. Yes, great for science and humans. I truley feel that Henritta's entire family should be compensated for the cruel behavior of that was brought to her. Thanks so much for this sincere sharing of information.
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I'm African American, male and wanting to practice medicine someday. This story is soo tragic on so many levels...Tuskegee Experiment? Makes me really think about HIV in the African American population.

No matter what cell, whoes cell...it all makes sense. God works in mysterious ways. I am very impressed and in awe of this story. So many black people were confined let alone denied of a right to life and I can not imagine what this family felt when they came to hear the news. Better them and their generation(s) than mine. Whatever it takes to discover and to find a cure is what science is all about. Thanks to all scientists whom have heart and patience to reveal science in its unknown being. I am 100% amazed with this story as should everyone...I love this site.

It is important to remember that we are NOT our cells. When our soul goes back to God we take NOTHING with us. Since we didn't design our bodies, we do not own them, we are only responsible for them until we die.

Interesting story and twist on science!!!!

Well-written piece. I am not a big reader but I appreciated this one. It's history and science in a nutshell.

she was a participent,,if possabl she would have had the benefits of the discoveries from the research doctors medical expertise . The role played by the research doctors supperseed her passive contribution of the right genetic cells at the right time. Dont be stingy Henrietta, some one else would have done the same thing for you if given a chance to contribute their cells ,,,For one brief moment in time her link in the chang of life was uniquetley important,,You give a little you receive a little..Would not the chance of benefitting been the deciding factor???She was a medicaly beneing participant,she was not the developer of the medical benefits. You take a chance; some times u win , some times u loose; but you do your part to keep the game moving,,.Without the doctors medical expertise she would still be a 'gonner'. What dose she want??'eggs in her bear'?

This is an amazing story. Thanks for sharing it. One never ceased to be amazed by perhaps thousands of untold true stories such as this. Great reseach! Im looking forward for the book.

If even a single cent of monetary profit is gained from the use of cells harvested from individuals, those individuals, and/or their heirs, should share in these profits.

Thanks for putting this out there and making this accessible. Will get the book for sure!

While I do not condone the "stealing" of anything from anybody, by anybody, why is the focus on compensation rather than the millions of lives saved by her cells?

Can we not just thank God for working his miracles thru us, in this case, thru her?

What if we're meant to be immortal! This is such an amazing story. Would make a great movie.

This revelation is ecstatic and I thank God for allowing this to surface after so many years.Thanks Rebecca Skloot for your presistance.

This story is incredible and there should be a documentary film about this. for the family of the Lacks, thank you

Great story and God bless for Henrietta's family!

I would like verry much to read the book

In this day and age, I would think the family should have medical coverage & prescription coverage, in lieu of their mom's indirect but totally her, contribution to the medical field. Whether she knew or not, I would think the medical CREED would have an affect.

Fascinating. Great to share with children. The study of science is taking place right now in front of you. I particularly got a kick out of the,....."can't we figure out a way to sue this guy" comments. There we all are then, on top of the dung pile.

:) The best article 1 ever read.. Can't wait for the book. Thank you Rebecca Skloot & may God blessed Lacks family.

This is very interesting. It makes you wonder what other genetic anomalies are out there waiting to be discovered or revealed to public eyes. Though the genetic and other medicinal work is amazing it is still wrong that her cells were "stolen" and i hope that the family will be compensated in some way.

This was a great article. It is sad however, to know that any of us could have the same thing happen to ourselves or our families. We are not subjects to be used as doctors see fit. We are people and we must fight daily for our rigts and freedoms.

Well I say its great. I'm sure Henrietta doesn't mind her cells remaining alive to better mankind. I mean how many women can say their cells out lived them or their fashion sence?....LOL.... However if there are books and movies involved; I think the family should recieve money off of them. That is only the right thing to do. ( By the way I'm her granddaughter) JUST KIDDING....lol I say LIVE ON cells of Henrietta! VIVA los cells de Henrietta!

This is really amazing story i wanted to read...... I'll will find this book.... AMAZING!!!!!!!!...

WOW great writing I cant wait to read the book im sorry for the people in Laredo TX their last and only book store is closing :(

This was such a wonderful and interesting article, I enjoyed it so much. I, like so many others, am wondering if the family received any compensation for their wife, mother, sister, they really deserve it. She was a beautiful lady. I am so going to go and buy the book. It should be on the best sellers list somewhere.

Wow!...this article is very amazing!...

The article is interesting but it makes me ask, are most people's cells so-called "immortal" and her cells were only available to science because they were taken without consent? ...or was it because it the cells were cancerous? I totally appreciate what contribution, she as a black woman could give us - but really regardless of who she was -the "gift" was taken, not given and she didn't even know, right?

Great article! The book and story sound very interesting. It's also interesting that the brother didn't care until he heard about the $$$. Not to sound racist here but one was already homeless. Money can only help or hinder this family and I'm thinkin' it's the latter.

I won't waste my time reading a lot of this foolishness! The cells that belonged to the lady have saved SO many lives, I'd like to think the lady is happy and proud she could help the world so much. As for you racists, of all colors, shame on you! You money mongers the same! There are some people in this world that give and ask nothing in return! It was wrong to take without asking but I think the Lady would have gladly given! I know I would have! Some of you make me sick that we are of the same species!

Is this for real and if it is, why haven't we heard of it before? Are you saying that the cells never DIED or that they were KEPT alive by the scientist?Or is this just to promote the BOOK?? Because it seems to be working. I don't have aproblem with that, just wanted to know...Is this serendity or....?

What a fantastic story. I look forward to reading the book. I believe the family deserves something for what their mother contributed and didn't even know it.

This story sounds very interesting. Hopefully, Rebecca Skloot will donate most of the profits to the family. Finally they can begin to find their way out of poverty. I'm sure that's what the mother would have wanted. Although Mrs. Lanks didn't have a choice in any of this,everyone seems to be financially benefiting from her in the name of "Science".

The picture alone speaks volumes. Such a befitting story should be required reading in middle school science classes and above. Here is another example of the medi-sins created against African Americans but all is not lost because we now have the opportunity to grow in knowledge about the impact African Americans have contributed to medical science and industry. A must read. Let me know when the book is available.

good... and interesting unknown fact not only in the field of medicine... but in biology itself as a whole...

Amazing, yes- the family should have been compensated. This story I think reminds us that scientific inquiry both allows and requires us to be the moral agents that we are. Inspiring in a way. Definitely fascinating

It is so wonderful and we all should thank her... and all scientists for studiying medicine using Hela cells.specially thanks to that physician who dare to explore the unknown.....like dr. Alexzander Fleming did for discovery of penicillin.

I am so speechless,I cant wait to get the book and read it this is a amazing.

Thanks a lot Rebecca. Have learn & even used HeLa for research and yet now only i know the origins. Interested to know why HeLa is IMMORTAL. cancer cell lines finite culture for research would be juz <20 passage. hm...those scientist must hv taken quite A BIG LUMP of cells from her.

That was great what the Doc did he may have save alot of lives. But you know a close mouth don't get feed so the family should ask for a fare amount.

Nice piece of history. Too bad many of you only think of the race and money aspect!!

did anyone stop to think that they may be giving cancer cells to other people in these vaccines, etc? esp is the cells can spread and contaminate through airborne pathways! that is scary to think that scientists use cancer cells for vaccines!

Very, very interesting story. However, something tells me there is much more to this story and we will be reading about Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cells again.

Why dos every thing have to be about money,Just think how many people it help,and will help with science,and msdicine,and I will read the book ,Thanks ms,Skloot

Great Article. I cannot wait to read the book. I feel her family should recieve some monetary compensation!

Show the strength of the African-American blood line. The family should be compensated immensely for this. Only fair.

I will have to say I am very amazed and interested in a story that so many people respond in such a positive way. I have never seen so many positive responses EVER! Great job writing this piece.

Utterly fascinating. Completely intriguing. I'm glad that the author had the courage to tell this story. May Henrietta Lacks rest in peace and may her family find solace AND the financial compensation that they are, most assuredly due, all these years later.

Alot of money is to be issued to the family, considering the cells were taken without permission and sold for millions (probably billions) of dollars. That is wrong and unethical, This is wrong and malicious.. You just don't take something from someone's without permision and make profit out of it ? I hope the family gets an amazing lawyer to sue the hell out of the scientist and it's organization for this malicious and unethical act.

After reading some of these comments I have to ask myself have we yet learned or acquired a sense of awareness or decency a woman and her family were wronged this was the 1950s lets be real back then it was just business white business if that had been a white womanor man their names would have been plastered all over the world but some poor black woman and her family were not thought twice of until they decided that they needed some more.Is rebecca biased or just stupid,why wouldnt the family be angry why shouldnt they recieve restitution if they were whit they sure as hell would wake up people something was stolen and weather it was for science or industry someone other than the big thieve should get paid I mean henrietta is gone what other restitution can they recieve.

I'm a physician and a scientist. I briefly used HeLa cells in my work. I appreciate your thoughtful article.

I wonder if the author or publisher of this awesome story plans on sharing their profits with the family? Or you gonna stiff them like the researchers and developers did!

Need to know more. I will be buying the book.

So it's ok for the medical industry to make billions trading immortal cells but it's not ok for the family in which immortal cells originates to be compensated in any way? Yes, Henrietta made a huge contribution to medical science but the medical industry is pocketing billions from it, which is ok too. I think at least a token financial payment is in order, particularly considering the financial struggles of Henrietta's family. They just need to hire a lawyer and I'm sure the industry will settle out of court.

Medical Aparthied is a more relevant book to get. The experimentedon the woman without her permission. Anyone remember the Tuskegee experiments.

This is an amazing story. However, what the scientists did was unethical. They knew that they could get away from "stealing her cells" because she was black. Back in the 1950s something like this was just swept under the rug; no one would have ever believe that a black woman cells could have a major impact in medicine several years later. The scientists should have at least consulted with the family, informing them that we took some of your family's cells. The moral thing they could do now is atleast apologized to the family for stealing her cells and recompensate the family because if it wasn't for her cells many of the vaccination and other important discoveries would not have transpired. It's unsettling that we are now just hearing about this. People need to be informed of the great history lesson. Thank you for posting this article.

As these cells were taken from a cancerous cervical tumor caused by HIV virus and known to be carried on dust particals causing cross contamination I would be quite concerned with the outcome of their use. We should wonder what a so called immortal cell could do used in the polio vaccine an so many other medical research projects. We now have aids, widespread HIV,and many other dieases in young people that are incureable.

Medical Aparthied is a more relevant book to get. The experimentedon the woman without her permission. Anyone remember the Tuskegee experiments.

I found this article very interesting. I want the book. Can you imagine the movie......WOW!

This is an amazing story. However, what the scientists did was unethical. They knew that they could get away from "stealing her cells" because she was black. Back in the 1950s something like this was just swept under the rug; no one would have ever believe that a black woman cells could have a major impact in medicine several years later. The scientists should have at least consulted with the family, informing them that we took some of your family's cells. The moral thing they could do now is atleast apologized to the family for stealing her cells and recompensate the family because if it wasn't for her cells many of the vaccination and other important discoveries would not have transpired. It's unsettling that we are now just hearing about this. People need to be informed of the great history lesson. Thank you for posting this article.

i've read all the comments and i feel that if it was my mother i would like some kind of compensation for the simple fact back in the day scientest used the poor and uneducated people.she was black and WE ALL KNOWthey did little to save her.their main concern was to use her to better the white people.let's face it they used her as a ginnue pig the family deserves something.i'm not saying give them 100.000.000 one hundred million but something would be approiate.because if it were a white woman they would have dona everything they could to save her.and no i am not bkl but white

Yeah what a history, you guys should add this to every history books.

Big legal issue here. This family needs a very good lawyer - starting from the point of the Johns Hopkins' doctor taking a sample without the family's permission forward. I'm very sad for this woman and her family.

I believe that Mrs. Lack's sons were just plain greedy the way it was worded.

Half a story enought to get people in a uproar do any of the norm know how many cells on the human body die and go on to regenerate each second of our lives this story very important but very miss leading for people who have no knowledge in human anatomy or even a clue that all human cells are the same regradless of color or creed. Thank you that is all i have to say about this.

Wow fascinating story.I really want to read this book! I wonder how mane cures have come from those cells? Her family should be compensated. I bet the big pharmaceutical comppanies have made billions off this womans cells. As for not saving her from cancer, It was the fifties-I don't think they had a treatment for cervical cancer then and who knows what stage she was at when the cancer was discovered.

NOW THEY WILL MAKE BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE

What's with this talk of compensation? The scientist took a part of her cancer, I doubt she would have objected to having some of the thing that was killing her out of her body. Did the doctor treat her unkindly otherwise? Was she tortured, or was the rest of her body used for experimentation? They took a few cancer cells, get over it people. Yes, it's horrible that she had to die of cervical cancer, but good lord, compensation? For what?

Thank you for this information. Here's hoping that good results will come from your hard work and belief that this story should be told.

lovely way of telling the truth!

The book "Next" is a must read for those interested in this topic. Just wondering, will Ms. Skloot give any profits to the now surviving HeLa family? Let's see. Black or White, and I happen to be a white woman scientist, having a daughter with a history of cancer who at this point is a survivor, I think the following: our cells are our property and the property of our heirs; universities have far too much involvement and control beyond scolastics (they pressure families and make huge amounts of money w/ the cell lines); drug cos are in the mix and promote risk; and the diseases that affect us all...and affect the few - are being stalled in helping us by profiteering and arrogance. I had to pay 4K to have my daughter's cells tested for a rare mutation OUT OF THIS COUNTRY! A local research university wanted her tumor to add her to a research project, presumably to "help others"...I said NO. If I had said "yes" as the ignorant, desperate mother that they played me for, I would not have been able to give my daughter the answer that she needed to live the life that she now has.

THIS IS AWESOME!!!! :D

I am a research scientist and have personally used HeLa cells for my research. Henrietta's cells are immortalized because at some point, most likely in her adolescence, she acquired a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The virus remained in her cells which led to their immortalization, resulting in cervical cancer. As a lot of us know today we finally have an HPV vaccine and as an HPV researcher HeLa cells have provided a lot of vital information towards our understanding of HPV and cervical cancer, which has also led to HPV vaccine development. I could probably guarantee that almost every lab in the world has at least one vial of frozen HeLa cells which tells you how powerful these cells have been for research. However I know for a fact that the widespread use and availability of Henrietta's cells are an exception as the process of ethical approval to obtain human cells for research has gotten more and more difficult, as it very well should be. Although her cells have led to thousands of wonderful discoveries I do think scientists take these tools for granted. Its nice to see the name Henrietta instead of HeLa.

The story about Mrs. Lacks was told eloquently and poignantly by Ms. Harriet A. Washington in her (should be) seminal book, Medical Apartheid, published in 2006. The practice of using African-americans as guinea pigs has a long history, regardless of the spin given to Mrs. Lacks' "contribution". If you want to read about Mrs. Lacks, who lived at some point in Turner Station in Baltimore, Maryland, in a larger context, you should read Ms. Washington's book. You may want to read "The cells that would not die-the tissue of a Baltimore woman dead for 30 years haunts the medical laboratories, undoing years of research", Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar 1981; "The immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks", Reader's Digest, Sep 1986; "Her cells made her immortal", Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar 97. The last article, and a more current one (not cited), written perhaps four years ago, also express the sentiments of her family.

nice story.... very interested.....:)

This is very interesting and I would love to read the book. Science is research and human being as well as animals are always being used for research with or without our permission. How many lives did this one woman saved? Thank you for your research!

I also would buy this book. This is very interesting and would make a great movie. I didn't know there was something called an immortal cell, sounds like something on the SyFy channel. Thanks, Rebecca.

It is amazing how the writer of this artical made the Lacks son's out to only ask for money. The doctors and scientist who stole Mrs. Lacks cells are the GREEDY ONES HERE!!!!. They made Billons on her cells!!!

Are the family going to be compensated for their mothers cells being used are that time and still!!!!.

I first read about this story in the Oprah February 2010 magazine issued. I was surprized to see it here!!!.

This is another example of how scientists from the 20th century used afro-americans as genie pigs all for the name of science. The least they could've done was ask for permission, but it was ok at the time cause they were black. What's even worse the family was not even compensated. Every one involved in this research made a profit in some form or fashion. This is equivalent to some one stealing a patent for an invention, making profit from that invention and not sharing the proceeds. Sounds like the scientist had good intentions but ill tactics.

Fascinating story and well written - easy to read.

Incredible story. I pray that her famiy is compensated.

It's 2010, in 59 yrs this family should have already done something to stop living in poverty instead of now thinking oh wow lets cash in on Mom's old cells that did not die. Come on people, once you are dead your cells are either God's or if you were having tests due to illness as she was, they usually get discarded or used for scientific purposes. This way your loved ones do not die in vain if they can help save another life. My Mom had breast cancer, so now I guess i should track down her biopsy and see if anyone made any money off of it? Go get educations and jobs and leave Mom poor old cells alone! Oh and my Dad died from a massive heart attack, but before that he had a pigtail put in to help his aorta, all that they cut out of him, I need to know where it is and how much money was made from that to. My grandmother died back in the 50's wonder where they put her tests and cell tissue. Hell she died at 96, if her cells are still living then they really might be closer to immortal, maybe she could have lived to 835, like Noah. I need money, having a hard time, let me dig her up. Man could I ever live high on the hog instead trying to make my life better on my own dime. Think I will dig everyone up and go on a cell and tissue hunting trip. Besides that my cells belong to me and not my children or my grandchildren, they have their own cells!

what a most facinating article. Although there is one thing that I would like to comment on. The fact that her husband only had a third grade education does not make him ignorant. Just look at the picture of them he, looks like he's got it together to me. My father only had a sixth grade education and still knew alot about many things, it was a different time then children often did not go far in school because they were needed on the farm. Also her sons may not have thought much about the cells until money was involved so what? exactly what does that mean?. The minute that they started buying and selling those cells the family should have started being compensated, instead they were left to scrape by while the scientific community became wealthy! How unfortunate that people see this as a Black and White issue when it is really a matter of doing the right thing regardless of race.

I absolutely love this and I must buy the book. This is remarkable and truly a blessing in disguise for Mrs. Henrietta's family. I pray and have faith that they will get compensated for this amazing discovery. I hope that her descendants realize how incredible this is. Who knows maybe a grandchild might be inspired to become a scientist, biologist, etc. from learning how a part of their history helped the world....TRULY AMAZING AINT GOD GOOD.

I really enjoyed the article and now I want the book!

I have been a nurse for almost 13 yrs. It is always interesting to learn new and different information about people and their contribution to medicine. I had always heard of HeLa cells from anatomy/physiology, but had never heard how they came about, only what he have learned from them. That is very interesting! I cannot wait to read the book!

we all have views in life and we should understand what's not understandable.

Excellent article. I want the book.

I found this to be very interesting, and am anxious to read more about it. Hopefully this will not turn into a race issue, nor will it become an economic issue for the family of the late Henrietta Lacks. Because of her cells, she has saved more lives than and ONE human being today. I find it simply amazing!!

i come from other culture,i can't understand why you so interested in this story?

I loved hearing about Henrietta Lacks! She lacks recognition for the wonderful contribution her cells have been to anyone who has received the polo vaccine and any other help they have supplied in other research. I am a donor and will be honored should my contribution help cure anything and further anyone's life. I feel that every donor should be recognized and the surviving family informed about the discovery made due to their families donation. The Smithsonian has so many artifacts for us to admire, why can't we also have a plaque to inform us of the discovery and who helped with that discovery and not just the sceintist. I don't feel my family should receive money for my donation but a thank you and recognition for the importance of being a donor.

This is one of the most wonderful and powerful pieces I've read in a long time. These wonderful 'HeLa' cells are living "Life Gems". I am impressed by the persistance of the author. I am in awe of the history. I am grateful for a woman, whom at the time, had no idea what she would contribute to the world for years to come. For the family of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks, "march on 'til vict'ry is won". We owe a great deal to the living gem that continues to live on. I sent this article to my sisters, and to my friends. As for compensation for the family, I pray that the Human Spirit will prevail and do what is right and necessary to take care of the family. This is a story that will be echoed in the history books for years to come. It would be a shame that they cannot atleast send some royalties to a foundation created in Lacks' honor. In a world in which we pay millions for items we don't need, the most a foundation could bring is health care for the family. Something that their mother is truly and literally a part of. To the daughter, Deborah, thank you for giving the Author your trust and for being courageous in your spirit to allow her to help. I pray that everytime NASA sends a space shuttle to the moon...everytime polio has been cured and each time a medical mystery has been solved, you smile and know that as long as there is science, your mom will live forever. She was one "HeLa" of a woman. Many blessings, closure and peace to your family.

Why does everyone have to be lawsuit-crazy? People just want a fast, easy buck. Sure the family should probably be rewarded something but really why is there a need to punish science? If you want money, go get a job and stop making everything so expensive by greed-driven lawsuits! Gross. Instead, this family should be enshrined in history books and their name should live on in a positive light in the name of scientific advancement.

Awesome piece!

Wow. Does that mean that they are coming up with a way to make us immortal? Will they find a way to stop us from dying?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks By: Rebecca Skloot Crown Publishing Group 2010 about $14 or so at Barnes & Noble...or check your local bookstore. Also available on ebook

Bless Henrietta's soul. I bet you she is smiling and looking down and thanking science for the benefits her cells have done and will still be doing for mankind. It proves that cells are really important in researching for cures to diferent diseases. Thanks to her family who now understood the important of Henrietta's cells. ANd last but not least, Kudos to the scientists doing all those researches.

nice story!...but i think it should not be a racial story, instead a enlightenment or learning to our medicine and science improvements and researches..the family of henrietta should have known about it.. thank you henrietta..

I hope everybody think about cell owner and thanks for help us to get better life.

This was a fantastic piece. It is amazing what science can do. I do feel that the family should have gotten some money out of it. I hope the family can do something to get some of that money. It was wrong of the scientists to take the cells without the knowledge of the people envolved. That was selfish on their part.

great story! I wanted my cells to be studied

...this is just a missing puzzle. Nice job done.

Thank you for telling this article. Stories like this of people telling what needs to be told are always nice to hear. A big thank you to the family as well, for eventhough Mrs. Lack never knew what she did, through her millions of lives have been saved. If it had been me, I would've been so proud to have donated my cells. She truely is a life-saver, and I hope her family knows how thankful all those who recieved the polio vaccene, and others are to her and to them. I wonder if they will recieve any of the profit from the biography? If not, they should. All in all, a wonderful article. Thank you Henrietta.

I really enjoyed the article. And was very moved that once again a black person has improved lives across the world; but I think that it is very sad that a person died doing something to helped millions of people of multiple nationalities and did not get not recognized for the gift that was given(consented or not). However, the article was on time, considering on how so many people are hurting these days.Personally,knowing that someone gave of themself(consented or nor) to saved millions or the human race is just a miracle in itself.

5000 word excerpt in O (OPRAH)magazine from book...http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Excerpt-From-The-Immortal-Life-of-Henrietta-Lacks_1

This is amazing I have never herd about this even during college years. There are many ethical and moral issues on regards to this case, However I am in health care and see people suffer on a daily basis. Can only imagine how many people it could help.

i think this is a nice story, well done and understood! i have no problem with them taking my samples, i wont be needing them anymore when im gone, so i hope i can contribute to science to help others, its kinda of a way to live forever thru others to help others. :)

amazing work, Rebecca Skloot. I wish to see more of your work. Thanks Zielinski, you have done great to bring this story to us.

This story reminds me of the Tuskegee Project and is just another example of how Black life is undervalued in America. We absolutely owe so much to this woman and the legacy she unknowingly gave us. Her family should absolutely be compensated! She was not a donor...her cells were stolen without her knowledge! The theives didn't even feel ashamed about what they did to her to conceal her identity but that turned out to be the blessing. It took a nation of millions to hold us back and it still didn't work.

I hope Henrietta's daughter gets the answers she is looking for and I hope the family gets compensation since this was done without permission. Today, however, anyone going into the hospital for sugery needs to read the fine print and you will find that you give the hospital the right to experiment with any tissue they remove. They do not need to compensate you in anyway. But in the 1950's they did not have these release papers so the family should receive something.

Great story. Sounds like a good book.

Check this out from the library instead of BUYING IT if you're concerned with what you fund with your cash. Let's not further this exploitation; Consider sending the cash to the family instead of Skloot.

I completely agree with William Thomas:

"Rebecca Skloot is yet another in a long line of self-serving "experts" who have exploited Henrietta Lacks and her family. The "poor black" tobacco farmer, and her ignorant widower and children, being used as fodder for White Lady Skloot's artificial magnanimity is more than I can stomach right after lunch."

If anything, her family should be proud that she was in any way capable of helping science. I've lost someone to cancer, and any method that would help eradicate that disease or so many others is worth any sacrifice. I am definitely interested in reading the book. And I hope her family is proud of the contribution she may have made to eradicating any known diseases. Thank you to them for her contribution to science.

They gave her the right pseudonym Helen Lack... Because ''Helen lacks'' proper compensation.

This is a wonderful story and thanks to all the terrific scientist we have and to those in the past our hats are off to you.You unlock so many doors.

I don't think Henrietta would have asked for a penny if she had known she could have saved many lives. You said, her relatives didn't even know what a cell was. To them its not able saving lives its how much can we make off of Henrietta.

Most interesting thing I have learned about in the medical field!!I will try to find more about HeLa cells.

i think that this is interesting and although great things came out of her cells, she should of had a say in what happens to her body and that they had no right to take anything from her with out her knowig either way that you look at it they stole from a women that just went to the hospital for help.

Wonderful story! Mind-boggling, really. It would make a great movie. Real-life is so much more fascinating than fiction! Thank you for a great piece.

Henrietta's family should get something for all the money that the doctors, hospital and science made. If we all think back on how blacks were used for study. Remember cocaine? syphilis? They were used to see effects on humans and blacks were used. This family should be compensated. Xrays are property of a "hospital" too but this is experments that helped millions and millions were made.

This article really caught my attention and really like to know the whole story of it. Thanks to the scientists who really take time to study human anatomy esp cells or what we call the stem cells. I am too, willing to give my cells for a study just for the benefit of humanity.

Great story I too would like to read the book, it would make a good movie. Funny how they changed the name to sound more white. And as for Bob even if they cut cells from your body they still belong to you, no one has a right to take what is yours and make money from it that would be stealing don't you think!

i really like the story...they should have a justice to what the goverment or the people have done to them...i want to know more about the family and how they live in the community right now!its so interesting...i want to know more about the husband and the relatives that revolve on them

Michael Creighton brought this whole thing up in one of his books: How unethical it is not to partially compensate the people from whom these cell lines are taken. Kind of like not paying a few royalties to a person who owns property that sits on the oil. I really miss reading Creighton's thoughtful books. He was way ahead of the curve.