Origins & Early Life

Henrietta Lacks (née Loretta Pleasant; August 1, 1920 – October 4, 1951) was an African-American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized human cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research. An immortalized cell line reproduces indefinitely under specific conditions, and the HeLa cell line continues to be a source of invaluable medical data and research to the present day. Lacks was the unwitting source of these cells from a tumor biopsied during her treatment for cervical cancer at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1951. These cells were then cultured by George Otto Gey, who created the cell line known as HeLa, which is still used for medical research.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

As was then the practice, no consent was required to culture the cells obtained from Lacks's treatment. Even though some information about the origins of HeLa's immortalized cell lines was known to researchers after 1970, the Lacks family was not made aware of the line's existence until 1975. With knowledge of the cell line's genetic provenance becoming public, its use for medical research and for commercial purposes continues to raise concerns...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alberto Sordi — Contemporary (Born in 1920) (1920): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• Alfred Peet — Contemporary (Born in 1920) (1920): Dutch-American founder credited with starting the US specialty coffee revolution.
• Amedeo Modigliani — Contemporary (Died in 1920) (1920): Italian painter and sculptor known for elongated, modern portraits and nudes.
• Abanindranath Tagore — Contemporary (Died in 1951) (1951): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Alvin E. Roth — Contemporary (Born in 1951) (1951): Pioneering economist known for game theory and market design solutions.
• André Gide — Contemporary (Died in 1951) (1951): Pioneering French author, Nobel laureate known for exploring selfhood and transgression.
• Al-Qushayri — Shared historical date (08-01 · Born) (986): Eminent Arab scholar, Sufi philosopher, and master of Islamic sciences.
• Alphonsus Liguori — Shared historical date (08-01 · Died) (1787): Italian bishop, theologian, and founder of the Redemptorists.
• Alexandros Papagos — Shared historical date (10-04 · Died) (1955): Greek military leader and politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece (1952-1955).
• Alicia Silverstone — Shared historical date (10-04 · Born) (1976): American actress known for 'Clueless' and her vegan activism.
• 1920 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1920
• August 1 (08-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 1
• 1951 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1951
• October 4 (10-04) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 4