Just discovered? That's routinely taught in A-level biology now.
If the cells of the late Henriette Lacks can give us a cure for cancer, the only thing I will say against it is that her children and grandchildren should have been treated better than they have been. Which is what I already say, cure or not.
Taught in biology since when? When I went through uni and did units in human biol, there was never any teaching on this.. so you mean to tell me they are now brainwashing children at school to think this sort of thing is ok?? each to their own i guess.. but this sort of thing in science imo just goes against all common sense and good reason and is totally unethical.. the other thing to say against it - perhaps she should have been asked for her consent before her cells were taken and used in such a manner... there's no justification really.
Well, we did it in my biology degree many, many years ago, I know it has been taught for a couple of years at least as an A-level biology ethics thing... it is unethical but then so is most of the world, at least this may have a positive outcome.
I should have been asked for consent before being carved up, yet no-one thought to do that. Consent and doctors just don't happen, IME. That's the medical world and it won't change very soon.
Haven't actually read the links but if you're interested in the Henrietta Lacks' life and the HeLa line there is a wonderful book about it. It's called The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Yes, it's a travesty that whilst many Doctors, scientists and pharmaceutical companies have profited from her cells her family can't afford medical insurance or basic health care. Interestingly enough the researcher who grew her cells (which was a massive, massive breakthrough in medical research) never profited from them - he gave them away for free (and the medium they grew in). He was given cells from many dead patients the HeLa cells were special because they grew and because of them we understand all sorts of things about cells we never would have known. FWIW there is still a question over the ownership of discarded body tissue.
IMO Tuskegee syphilis experiment was far more awful than removing cells from a dead woman without consent.
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another repulsive thing ive discovered in the history of vaccines..
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