This is Henrietta Lacks, a woman who died in 1951 of cancer. When samples of her tumor were sent to a research lab, scientist discovered that Lacks's cells could do something that was once thought impossible: they could live forever.
Now known as the HeLa cell line, Lacks's immortal cells are reproduced across the world for biomedical research. They are used to study diseases, test medicines, and learn more about how our bodies work.
But this scientific breakthrough raises ethical questions. Lacks's cells were taken without her consent, and her living family were not notified or given any financial benefits, even though the HeLa cell line has helped companies make millions of dollars in profit.
