Cells of Poor Women Saving the World
Health News March 8th, 2010
Henrietta Lacks died 60 years ago. But the poor woman who died at the age of 30 years has left the body cells to save the world.
A cell taken from a black woman had a large contribution in the medical world. Because cell research could be developed the polio vaccine and some medications.
Henrietta Lacks’s family never thought of polio vaccine currently available is based on studies of cells that later Lacks called Hela cells.
The story begins in 1951 when Lacks went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore U.S. for cancer of the cervix (neck of the uterus).
Before he died, doctors could take some tumor cells without the permission Lacks. These cells eventually taken to the laboratory for testing.
Apparently the researchers found that these cells can do something that had never before seen by the researchers. The cells can be taken is still alive and growing.
“I think we owe many thanks for what has been provided by Henrietta Lacks and this is absolutely no doubt. Lacks died late in 1951, but the cells are taken is still alive and the great contribution to the development of research in the whole world, “said Prof. Ranciello, as quoted from ABCNews, on Monday (1/2/2010).
In a microbiology laboratory in New York, Colombia, Professor Vincent Ranciello to experiment with a few cells that have brought the greatest medical breakthroughs in recent decades. Cells that use ordinary cells but not cells called Hela.
Tues Hela first used in research for the manufacture of polio vaccine, as well as help develop drugs to fight cancer, flu and Parkinson’s. In addition these cells are also used in gene mapping, cloning and test the effects of atomic radiation sent abroad.
Lacks own family never knew about this for 20 years. Until finally in 1970 the family knew.
While the breeding companies Hela cells billions of dollars profit, Henrietta’s family had little money and some of them are not even able to have health insurance.
“Something that has made her the greatest contribution to medical advances have transformed our anger into feeling happy and proud,” said the son of Henrietta Sunny.
Lacks family until now had never received a penny compensation or an apology for making such cells Henrietta Lacks.
To this day Hela cells has provided a valuable breakthrough in terms of medical developments such as for the development of polio vaccines, cancer drugs, flu and Parkinson’s disease
