Hela Cells

Today Hela cells are the most widely cells used in celleventually will no longer be able to divide. However,
biology. These cells where taken from an African ladycancer or immortal cells have an active version of this
called Henrietta Lacks in 1951 and sent round theenzyme and hence preventing it from dying. This
world without her consent. These are the very cellsspecial characteristic of the Hela allows it to divide
lines that led to the discovery of the polio vaccine.unlimited number of times without loss of genomic
Hela cells are the most widely used cell line ininstability.
molecular biology labs across the world. The wordThe cells derived from Henrietta Lacks have been
HeLa is derived from the first two letters of theused in countless labs across the world. It has
name Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta Lacks whose cellsassisted in several research discoveries. A quick
were cultured had suffered from cervical cancer. Hersearch of scientific citation in US National Library of
cells were the first cancer cell-line to survive inMedicine suggests 61911 studies that have used
artificial culture media and thrive outside the humanthese cells. Hela cells have been a valuable tool in
body.understanding diseases at the molecular level specially
Today, Henrietta Lacks who has contributed so muchunderstanding cancer invitro models. In addition, it has
to science and discovery, has been unacknowledgedbeen instrumental in screening of anti-cancer drugs.
her due in history has been ignored. A lady of AfricanFor example, these cells were used to propagate the
descent whose cells were taken without her consentpolio virus that eventually led to the discovery and
and sent across the world has been crucial in thedevelopment of the polio vaccine. Today such
development of vaccines and drug discovery, lies instrategy is used in many labs across the world for
an unmarked grave in Virginia USA. It is these veryvaccine development.
cells from the aggressive adenocarcinoma of herSome of the characteristics of Hela cells are as
cervix that has enabled biochemists to study manyfollows;
cellular and disease process.1. It is a human epithelial cell line derived from cervical
The ability of these cells to survive is attributed tocarcinoma that have been transformed by human
the active version of the enzyme called "telomerase".papillomavirus 18 (HPV18)
The role of telomerases is to add certain DNA repeat2. These cells are adherent cells meaning that they
sequences "TTAGGG" at the end of chromosomeswill stick to the cell culture flask
called" telomeres" and hence providing stability to3. The replication or doubling time is 23 hours
chromosomes. However, as the cell divide these4.
telomeres shorten at each DNA replication and