The HeLa Cell Line and The Lesson of Henrietta Lacks

Stained HeLa Cells ; Credit: GerryShaw

With the recent news about the descendants of Henrietta Lacks, and their victory in gaining some control over the genetic information of their dead ancestor (and ultimately themselves), it seemed like a good time to finally write a bit about the HeLa line, the controversy, and the woman whose sad end probably saved countless lives.

Groundbreaking Study Might Save Millions Infected by HIV

According to the head of the Therapeutic and Vaccine Research Program at the Kirby Institute of New South Wales, Professor Sean Emery, extensive testing has proven that individuals suffering from HIV can reduce treatment dosage of antiretrovirals by a third and still have the same results as a full dose. What this means is that current AIDS funding and resources can be stretched to encompass many more individuals. More info can be found at biologynews.net