The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, written by Rebecca Skloot, details the story of HeLa cells and the family of the woman from which they originated. In the 1950's an African American woman named Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. A sample of her cancer cells was taken during a routine biopsy. Miraculously, those cells, now known as HeLa cells, became the first human cells to survive in a culture. The cells continue to divide today and have been a vital part of numerous medical breakthroughs. Unfortunately, although scientists all over the world work with HeLa cells regularly, Henrietta's family was unaware of her contribution for many years. Nearly fifty years later Rebeca Skloot began uncovering details linking Henrietta and her HeLa cells with with the Lacks family.
The book explores both a scientific and spiritual explanation as to why HeLa cells are still thriving today. Skloot demonstrates how the Lacks' struggle to understand how Henrietta can be dead when her cells are still so alive. This struggle raises the question, what does immortal mean? Scientifically, HeLa cells are immortal because the enzyme telomerase continues to repair the telomeres found at the ends of DNA strands so the cells do not lose important DNA during replication. To the Lacks' Henrietta herself is immortal because she lives on in her HeLa cells. Others may not be satisfied with either explanation. Perhaps Henreitta is immortal because her story will continue to be told for many years to come.
At times I found this book difficult to read. Being a biology major, the scientific explanation made perfect sense to me and I struggled to understand why Henrietta's daughter, Deborah, found it so hard to comprehend. I had to continually remind my self that Henrietta's family has not been lucky enough to receive the same education I have. On the other hand, without Henrietta's contribution science may never have advanced to this point. In a way I am learning because of the sacrifice made by the Lacks family. It reminds me that God has a reason for every event in our lives, even if we are unable to see it. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21).
The book explores both a scientific and spiritual explanation as to why HeLa cells are still thriving today. Skloot demonstrates how the Lacks' struggle to understand how Henrietta can be dead when her cells are still so alive. This struggle raises the question, what does immortal mean? Scientifically, HeLa cells are immortal because the enzyme telomerase continues to repair the telomeres found at the ends of DNA strands so the cells do not lose important DNA during replication. To the Lacks' Henrietta herself is immortal because she lives on in her HeLa cells. Others may not be satisfied with either explanation. Perhaps Henreitta is immortal because her story will continue to be told for many years to come.
At times I found this book difficult to read. Being a biology major, the scientific explanation made perfect sense to me and I struggled to understand why Henrietta's daughter, Deborah, found it so hard to comprehend. I had to continually remind my self that Henrietta's family has not been lucky enough to receive the same education I have. On the other hand, without Henrietta's contribution science may never have advanced to this point. In a way I am learning because of the sacrifice made by the Lacks family. It reminds me that God has a reason for every event in our lives, even if we are unable to see it. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21).
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