Chapters 28 - 31: February 21

While Henrietta's family didn't receive monetary compensation for their mother's cells, do you think there is any evidence from the reading (either in these chapters or earlier) that the family, Deborah in particular, received any other sorts of benefit from the story of her mother's cells coming out? Explain. (In other words, how did the fact that Rebecca Skloot chose to write this book impact the family?)

Chapters 20 - 27: February 20

1. Why is Ch. 20 called "The HeLa Bomb?"
2.  How did Michael Rogers Rolling Stone article impact the Lacks family?
3.  What is the apparent relationship between HPV and Henrietta's cells?

Chapters 17 - 19; Feb 14

1. In your opinion, what was the most ethically questionable research practice described in chapters 17/18? Why?
2. Describe three ways that the use of HeLa cells in research moved biology forward between 1954 and 1966 (more are mentioned in the reading....take your choice).

Chapters 14 - 16: February 7

1. In class this week we talked about what may be an important part of cell "senescence" (the process by which they grow old and die). Give a brief overview of how telomeres appear to be related to cell aging, and speculate on why this could contribute to the inability of researchers, prior to the discovery of HeLa cells, to culture cells. How might an understanding of telomeres and telomerase help understand the nature of Henrietta's "immortal" cells?

2. In chapters 14 - 16, the author spends a lot of time discussing the conditions under which Henrietta's children grew up. What do you think her purpose is in disclosing this detailed information?

Ch. 13: The HeLa Factory (Feb 1)

(This prompt is courtesy of Henry)

HeLa cells massively helped in the creation of the Polio Vaccine. Jonas Salk, who engineered the vaccine, didn’t opt to patent the life-saving breakthrough. This allowed generic versions to be developed and be more widely distributed to almost all of the afflicted. When it comes to life saving medicine, where should the line be drawn on what people should be able to patent? Should patients be able to patent their tissues? Should scientists be able to patent cures?

Pages 49 - 76 (January 29)

1. How is what happened to Henrietta at John Hopkins relate to what happened to subjects of the Tuskegee syphilis study?
2. What were some of the aspects of Carrel's chicken heart cells that made them infamous?

Pages 35 - 48 (January 23)

1. Give an overview of what was so special about Henrietta's cervical cells when Mary began to culture them.
2. How do you feel about the fact that Henrietta was not told that her cancer treatments would leave her infertile?