Controversy has struck the use of cells for experiment . . . 60 years ago. In 1951, a woman by the name of Henrietta Lacks, diagnosed with cervical cancer, died. Before her death, her cells were taken from her body, healthy cells and cancer cells. Lacks’ cells helped create many vaccines, like the polio vaccine. Some people believe there is nothing wrong with taking the cells and using them, whether or not an essence of her still lives on in the cells. Others think it extremely unethical. An essence of her still remain in the cells, even after 60 years, because all cells, even cells that have left the human body, still contain the original DNA of that person.
DNA, which is found in every cell, makes up the human body. A group of cells and one cell are both considered part of a human being. But because of the size, many people believe one cell not to be a human. For example, a baby is considered a human from the moment of conception, when it’s only a cell. A skin cell and the cell of a baby, not fully formed, contain mostly the same information: the DNA of a human. Lacks’ cells are still part of her, even if they don’t form a full person.
When cells reproduce they duplicate, creating two different cells that are replicas of the original. If cell M reproduces, there will be two cell M’s, then four, etc. Each cell contains the DNA of the original. Lacks’ cells continue to reproduce, even after 60 years. Even though it has been a long time, the cells still contain an essence of her because they are just duplicates of the originals. These duplicates are more of the original cells. If one skin cell reproduces, there will be two of the skin cell. Same cell, just more.
Ethics play a huge part in Lacks’ story. Her family was not told, until 20 years later, that her cells were being used to be experimented on. When they did find out, they were all very angry. They believed their mother still lived on in the cells, thus she should not be experimented on. Some people agree. Others do not. They believe that even though a part of her still lives, the cells can still be experimented on. The cells will still continue to reproduce. If one’s mother’s cells were used, one will probably be okay with it because the life of one can save the lives of a million others.
A person’s cells still continue to live on in even if the cells have left the body, because they still contain the DNA of the person. The cells that have left, might continue to reproduce creating more of the same cell. Every cell contains part of a human being. Henrietta Lacks’ cells still contain an essence of even if she died long ago.
DNA, which is found in every cell, makes up the human body. A group of cells and one cell are both considered part of a human being. But because of the size, many people believe one cell not to be a human. For example, a baby is considered a human from the moment of conception, when it’s only a cell. A skin cell and the cell of a baby, not fully formed, contain mostly the same information: the DNA of a human. Lacks’ cells are still part of her, even if they don’t form a full person.
When cells reproduce they duplicate, creating two different cells that are replicas of the original. If cell M reproduces, there will be two cell M’s, then four, etc. Each cell contains the DNA of the original. Lacks’ cells continue to reproduce, even after 60 years. Even though it has been a long time, the cells still contain an essence of her because they are just duplicates of the originals. These duplicates are more of the original cells. If one skin cell reproduces, there will be two of the skin cell. Same cell, just more.
Ethics play a huge part in Lacks’ story. Her family was not told, until 20 years later, that her cells were being used to be experimented on. When they did find out, they were all very angry. They believed their mother still lived on in the cells, thus she should not be experimented on. Some people agree. Others do not. They believe that even though a part of her still lives, the cells can still be experimented on. The cells will still continue to reproduce. If one’s mother’s cells were used, one will probably be okay with it because the life of one can save the lives of a million others.
A person’s cells still continue to live on in even if the cells have left the body, because they still contain the DNA of the person. The cells that have left, might continue to reproduce creating more of the same cell. Every cell contains part of a human being. Henrietta Lacks’ cells still contain an essence of even if she died long ago.