Sunday February 12, 2012
Malibu, California
Sunny and Warm
My sister introduced me to this book by Rebecca Skloot who is a journalist/writer specializing in science. Not only was the book well written but it educated me on the practice of using cells from biopsies to develop new drugs, cure for cancer, etc.
Henrietta Lacks was a poor black mother who lived in segregrated Baltimore in the 50s. She had a very aggressive form of ovarian cancer that ended her short life. Unbeknownst to her, her cells were taken by doctors at Johns Hopkins (Johns Hopkins had section of the hospital where "colored" patients were treated) and were the first cells that were successfully grown in a lab environment. They named the cells HeLa (the first two letters of her first and last name). Today, the cells are still harvested to develop cures and drugs. Ironically, while Henrietta's cells have been helping save countless lives, her family has lived in poverty and could not afford healthcare.
I really liked the way Rebecca Skloot graciously writes about Henrietta and her family. I also like that she was able to explain the science of reproducing cells and the controversy in plain English.
I could not put this book down and highly recommend everyone to read it. It's a fascinating story which is soon to be made a movie by Oprah Winfrey
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