Special Assignment: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Rebecca Skloot attended PCC Sylvania in 1988, where Biology Instructor Don Defler first introduced her
to HeLa cells and their contribution to biological sciences. This book chronicles her efforts to tell the
story of Henrietta Lacks, the woman whose cells were removed from her cancerous cervical tumor and
successfully cultivated, resulting in the first immortal human cell line and innumerable contributions to
cell biology and human medicine. Rebecca also tells the story of Henrietta’s family, their
misunderstandings and struggles to deal with the scientific and financial impacts of Henrietta’s cell line,
and in general, a look at the changing laws and ethics regarding the use of human cells and tissues for
scientific research and commercial gain.
Read the book. Copies are available for check out at the PCC Library, County Libraries, and Alexie
McNerthney (the Life Sciences chair) has 21 copies available for loan to students. Alexie is in HT 305; her
email is amcnerth@pcc.edu.
The Assignment: Reflect on how The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks relates to Biology 211-212213. I will include some thought questions based on information in specific chapters to help you
think about communication of science to non-scientists, medical ethics, cancer, etc. Your
reflection should make it obvious that you have read the majority of this book, be in edited full
sentences, and be in your own words. Reflections should be at least 2-3 pages typed and doublespaced in 10-12 font.
Chapter 3: Diagnosis and Treatment
1. What type of cancer was Henrietta Lacks diagnosed with? Describe the two versions.
2. In the middle of the 20th century, doctors had very different attitudes towards using patients for
research than they do today. Discuss the attitude at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in the 1950s,
particularly in regards to patients in the public ward.
3. What is an “immortal human cell line” and why was it considered desirable for research?
Chapter 4: The Birth of HeLa
1. Before the cultivation of HeLa cells, what were two major obstacles to growing cells in culture?
Describe efforts to eliminate these problems.
2. How fast did the HeLa cell line grow once it was established?
Chapter 7: The Death and Life of Cell Culture
1. What did George Gey do with HeLa Cells once he had a successful cell line growing?
Chapter 13: The HeLa Factory
1. Discuss how Jonas Salk’s discovery of the polio vaccine in 1952 led to the establishment of a largescale production of the HeLa cell line.
2. At the Tuskegee Institute, how many HeLa cell cultures (and cells) were produced once they
reached peak production?
3. Discuss the role of the establishment of Microbiological Associates in the spread of HeLa cells in
research. How did Microbiological Associates benefit?
4. This chapter discusses many ways in which HeLa cells were used in important biological research.
Summarize the medical and cell research for which HeLa proved useful.
Chapter 17: Illegal, Immoral, and Deplorable
1. Describe virologist Chester Southam’s research, begun in 1954, involving the injection of HeLa
cells into patients and volunteers.
2. What is the “Nuremberg Code” and what was its origin?
3. Discuss how Southam’s research violated the legal concept of “informed consent” discussed on p.
132.
Chapter 20: The HeLa Bomb
1. What was the “technical problem” that was announced by Stanley Gartler in 1966?
2. Why did concern over the “HeLa Bomb” lead to scientists contacting the descendants of Henrietta
Lacks in an attempt to obtain more cell and DNA samples?
Chapter 21: Night Doctors along with Chapter 6: Lady’s on the Phone
1. In Chapter 6, based on Ms. Skloot’s discussion with Dr. Pattillo, describe the Tuskegee Syphilis
Studies.
2. What other experiences of the Lacks family with Johns Hopkins contributed to their distrust of the
institution and the researchers there?
Chapter 22: “The Fame She So Richly Deserves”
1. Describe the fate of Dr. George Gey and how this led to Henrietta Lacks’ name being first published
as the source of HeLa cells.
2. What role did Walter Nelson-Rees play in getting Henrietta’s name in the public eye?
Chapter 27: The Secret of Immortality
1. What was German virologist Harald zur Hausen’s 1984 discovery about HeLa cells and Henrietta’s
original disease?
2. How does the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) work? How did it give Henrietta Lacks cancer?
3. Describe the role of HeLa research in uncovering information about the AIDS virus.
Chapter 32: “All That’s My Mother”
1. Dr. Christoph Lengauer gave the author and the two family members a tour of his lab and helped
dispel several misconceptions held by the family. Summarize a few of the things that he taught
them about Henrietta’s cells and the HeLa cell line.
Afterword
Rebecca Skloot notes two major ethical issues that to a large degree still need resolution: the issue of
consent and money.
1. Should hospitals be required to obtain patient consent to take and use tissues in all
circumstances? Do all citizens have an obligation to help medical research? Do you think consent
should be obtained in all cases, or just for certain experiments?
2. Who owns tissues and organs? If your cells or DNA lead to a major discovery with financial
implications, who should profit? The person or the researcher? Should patients be told that their
cells or DNA might lead to potential financial benefits?
Note: On February 16th, 2012, a special PCC Reads event is planned! Dr. Steve Kolmes from the University of Portland will give
a lecture that ties to the social justice thread of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. His talk will be from 3:15 pm to 4:20 pm
in ST 107. Dr. Kolmes will talk about the intersection of science, policy and culture:
In 1999 the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality established a Technical Advisory Committee of scientists and a Policy
Advisory Committee of stakeholders to recommend new surface water contaminant standards to the State Environmental
Quality Commission, for them to adopt new water quality standards for toxic substances. Focusing on the process of
establishing human health criteria and public policy for fish consumption, this presentation will provide a scientific critique
and ethical analysis for at-risk human communities (especially Tribal peoples) in Oregon. Ethical implications of modeling
assumptions including acceptable risk levels and fish consumption rates are given special attention.