Hyperdoc to review “The Immortal Life of Henrietta

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d Why is Henrietta Lacks so famous? The Bioethics of HELA NY Times “HELA” Book

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HyperDoc Notes
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”
Cell Cycle and Mitosis

1. What is the major cause of cancer?

Cellular DNA alterations, or mutations, are the root cause of cancer.

2. What is interphase?
A normal cell spends the majority of its existence in the interphase
phase of the cell cycle. The cell duplicates its DNA during interphase in
order to get ready for mitosis. Three phases make up interphase: S
(synthesis), G1 (gap 1), and G2 (gap 2).

3. What is mitosis?
Chromosomes that have been duplicated split into two new nuclei during
the cell cycle process known as mitosis.

4. Why don’t we want a constant state of mitosis?

Chromosomes that have been duplicated split into two new nuclei during
the cell cycle process known as mitosis.
 5. What is different about cancer cells? (multiple reasons)
The ability of cancer cells to divide uncontrollably, avoid apoptosis
(programmed cell death), promote angiogenesis (the creation of new blood
vessels to supply tumors), invade neighboring tissues, and spread to other
parts of the body are just a few of the ways that they differ from normal cells.

Why is HELA so famous?

1. Who was Henrietta Lacks?
Since her cells were the first human cells to be successfully cultivated and
replicated forever in a laboratory environment, Henrietta Lacks and her
immortal cell line, known as HeLa, are well-known.

2. Why are her cells so important?

Henrietta Lacks' cells are significant because of their extraordinary capacity to
multiply endlessly in lab settings, giving researchers a reliable and easily
accessible supply of human cells for study.

3. Where does the confusion come with HELA?

The fact that Henrietta Lacks and her family were originally ignorant of the
usage of her cells in research gives rise to confusion surrounding HeLa cells
and raises ethical and legal concerns regarding the permission and ownership
of biological samples.

4. How did the author become interested in her story?

The author of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," Rebecca Skloot, first
developed an interest in Henrietta's tale while studying biology. Her curiosity
expanded as she discovered more about the lady who created the renowned
cells and the complicated ethical issues surrounding their usage.

5. When did Henrietta’s family discover the information about her cells and how
did the author earn their trust?
When scientists contacted Henrietta's family for research purposes in the
1970s, many years after her death, they learned about her cells. Before
penning "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," Rebecca Skloot spent years
establishing trust with the Lacks family through interviews and discoveries
shared with them directly.

6. What are the lessons from the novel, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”?
The novel's lessons include the significance of informed consent in medical
research, the necessity of fairness and openness in the dissemination of
 scientific discoveries, and the appreciation of the contributions made by
underrepresented groups to scientific progress.

7. How does this novel tie into the concept of ‘bioethics’?

By posing concerns regarding patient rights, medical consent, and the moral
obligations of researchers and organizations, the book connects to the idea of
bioethics. It raises questions regarding the morality of utilizing human tissues in
research, especially when consent may not have been acquired or understood
completely.

Background information on Bioethics related to HELA:

Important bioethical issues about patient rights, informed consent, biological

material ownership, and equity in medical treatment and research are
brought up by the tale of Henrietta Lacks. It acts as a potent reminder of the
moral obligations placed on researchers, medical practitioners, and
organizations to uphold the rights and dignity of study participants.

NY Times Book Review, give 3 specific examples you learned from this site:

The book's in-depth examination of Henrietta Lacks' life narrative and the
moral dilemmas pertaining to the usage of her cells in research was highly
complimented in the review.

It brought attention to Rebecca Skloot's deft blending of human and scientific

accounts, which opened up the book to a broad readership.

According to the study, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" had a significant
influence on conversations around medical ethics and the value of honoring
the people who made scientific breakthroughs.