Episode 892
HeLa cells: do you own your own body parts?
An immortal cell line finds itself at the centre of a new lawsuit, raising big ethical questions
Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast · The Naked Scientists
October 19, 20214m 12s
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Show Notes
A form of cultured cell, known as a HeLa cell, is at the centre of a lawsuit that is being brought against a large scientific company that uses these cells. HeLa cells are named after the person they were collected from originally, Henrietta Lacks. They are an "immortal" cell line that grows continuously in the culture dish. This means that the cells that exist today stem directly from Henrietta Lacks' original cell sample, which was taken back in 1951. The use of these cells today raises ethical questions, because Henrietta Lacks did not give consent for them to be collected or used. The case... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Topics
hela cellshenrietta lackscancergenetic lawvaccinesRosalind English