The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a 2010 non-fiction book by American science writer Rebecca Skloot. The book chronicles the life of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line, HeLa. The book was a New York Times Best Seller, and won the National Academies Communication Award.In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She was treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where doctors took samples of her cancerous tissue without her knowledge or consent. These samples were used to create the first immortal human cell line, known as HeLa.HeLa cells have been invaluable in medical research, contributing to breakthroughs such as the polio vaccine and cancer treatments. However, the Lacks family was not told about the cell line or the research being done with it. It was not until the 1970s that they learned about the HeLa cells, and Henrietta’s role in medical history.The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks tells the story of Henrietta and her family, as well as the ethical issues surrounding the use of human cells in research. It is a powerful and moving account of one woman’s impact on the world of science.
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