1. Mrs. Henrietta Lacks And Her Cells (HeLa) Scientific and Sociological Overview

2. Cell “Refresher” Potter, JJ, HeLa Cells (Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy)

3. The cell is the basic unit of life Cell Membrane Nucleus Nucleolus Mitochondrion Golgi Rough ER Smooth ER Lysosome Vacuole

4. The Nucleus contains the cell’s genetic material (genome) Genetic material in the form of DNA Molecules are organized into structures called chromosomes HeLa cells stained with Hoechst dye for DNA

5. White cell Red Cells Neural Cells Skin Fibroblast Kidney Cells Fat Cells Liver Hepatocytes Liver Stellate Cell There are more than 200 different types of cells in your body

6. Figure 1. Purves et al., Life: The Science of Biology, 4th Edition, Sinauer Associates Cells are Organized into Tissues Multiple Tissues form Organs

7. How Many Bricks are in The ESB? There are 10 Million bricks in The Empire State Building

8. How Many Cells are in your Body? More Than 10 Trillion !!! = 1 million Empire State Buildings

9. Tissue culture is the growth of tissues and/or cells under artificial conditions He nrietta La cks’ cells were named He La cells HeLa cells were the 1 st to be kept alive outside of the body What do scientists do with cells?

10. HeLa Cells - The first immortal human cell line

11. HeLa Cells – The Launchpad for Advances in Biomedical Research Vaccines (Polio, HPV, Etc) Virology (HIV, HPV-18) Recombinant Protein Production (Insulin) Insulin Receptor Cancer Research Genomics / Epigenetics Molecular and Cellular Biology Tissue Culture Drug Discovery Microscopy

12. Controversy Surrounding HeLa Full Disclosure of Research Intentions Privacy Issues Social Justice issues Ownership Issues Historical African American distrust of medical research based on past injustice

13. To Learn More (2) The book by Rebecca Skloot http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052173 (1) NPR “Fresh Air” Interview - Listen online at: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/18/134622044/tracing-the-immortal-cells-of-henrietta-lacks (3) Consider contributing to the Henrietta Lacks Foundation http://www.henriettalacksfoundation.org/ (4) Attend 2 nd annual Henrietta Lacks recognition event, tentatively Oct 1 2011 in Turner Auditorium.