HeLa

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The HeLa () Cell Line is an immortalized cell line used in biological experimentation and research. It is the oldest human cell line and one of the most commonly used. HeLa cells are durable and prolific, allowing for extensive applications in scientific study. The cell line is derived from cervical cancer cells extracted from the tumorous mass of Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old African-American woman at the time, without patient notification or consent; this had occurred on February 8, 1951. The cell line is named for her ('He' for "Henrietta", 'La' for "Lacks"). Lacks died of cervical cancer on October 4, 1951. Extracting portions of biological tissues from patients without permission or knowledge for research use or storage was common practice in the United States at the time. Cell biologist George Otto Gey developed Lacks's cell line upon noticing that her adenocarcinoma cells were particularly easy to be kept alive and multiply. Previously, cells cultured from other human cells would...

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