The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells — taken without her knowledge — became one of the most important tools in medicine.

Tags: cancer | Clover | Deborah | Elsie | faith healings | Henrietta | Henrietta Lacks | human cells | Johns Hopkins Hospital | polio vaccine | Rebecca Skloot | slave quarters | tobacco farmer | Virginia