Henrietta Lacks (left) was an African American woman who suffered from cervical cancer. She passed away while seeking treatment at John Hopkins Hospital on October 4th, 1951.

As was the practice in the hospital when treating black people, a sample of her cancer cells were extracted and used in Dr. George Gey’s tissue lab. Ms. Lacks did not give consent; she was not even informed.

The cells, called “HeLa” for identification purposes, multiplied and reproduced where previous tissue samples had died.

The HeLa cells (left) continue to reproduce to this day. Because of this cell line, researchers have added an incredible amount of knowledge to our understanding of the human body and its pathologies. In addition, many medicines and cures have been built on the foundation of Henrietta’s cells.

Henrietta’s youngest daughter, Deborah Lacks (pictured left), felt the loss of her mother her entire life. She was barely two when her mother died. The discovery of the HeLa cells and their origin had a large impact on Deborah.

The Lacks family was not made aware of this continuing line of cells or its impacts until 1973. The family has never been compensated.