CTX Research Guides: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Jennifer's pick

Name of selector

Jennifer Hofmann

Selection

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Call Number: RC265.6.L24 S55 2010
ISBN: 9781400052172
Publication Date: 2010-02-02
Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer, yet her cells--taken without her knowledge--became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first "immortal" human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer and viruses; helped lead to in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks is buried in an unmarked grave. Her family did not learn of her "immortality" until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of--From publisher description.

Review

This book examines the story of Henrietta Lacks, the Black woman behind the world famous HeLa cell line, one of the most important tools in biomedical research. Although scientists have studied virtually every aspect of these cells, their origin story was shrouded in controversy and virtually unknown in the mainstream media. The author skillfully delves into the intersections between science, medicine, ethics, race, and faith to ask important questions about the sometimes personal cost of scientific progress.

I remember hearing about HeLa cells in college and was told they were from a white woman named Helen Lane. It wasn't until the end of my graduate career that I stumbled upon the true origin of these cells and the massive controversy over their continued use. It was truly a landmark moment in my life as a scientist, realizing that during my own research, I often didn't stop to ask some basic, yet important questions about where my materials came from and how they were developed. Once I heard there was a book coming out exploring more details about Henrietta Lack's life, I made sure to read it immediately after it was published so I could become more educated about the darker side of scientific research and ethics.

This book is an excellent launching point for discussion with students interested in science research to do a bit more soul searching about the past and the future of science and ethics. If we don't know where we have been in a particular field, how can we move forward responsibly?

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