What HeLa Cells Are and Why They Are Important

HeLa cells are the first immortal human cell line. The cell line grew from a sample of cervical cancer cells taken from an African-American woman named Henrietta Lacks on February 8, 1951. The lab assistant responsible for the samples named cultures based on the first two letters of a patients first and last name, thus the culture was dubbed HeLa. In 1953, Theodore Puck and Philip Marcus cloned HeLa (the first human cells to be cloned) and freely donated samples to other researchers. The cell lines initial use was in cancer research, but  HeLa cells have led to numerous medical breakthroughs and nearly 11,000 patents. Key Takeaways: HeLa Cells HeLa cells are the first immortal human cell line.The cells came from a cervical cancer sample obtained from Henrietta Lack in 1951, without her knowledge or permission.HeLa cells have led to many important scientific discoveries, yet there are disadvantages to working with them.HeLa cells have led to the examination of the ethical considerations of working with human cells. What It Means to Be Immortal Normally, human cell cultures die within a few days after a set number of cell divisions via a process called senescence. This presents a problem for researchers because experiments using normal cells cannot be repeated on identical cells (clones), nor can the same cells be used for extended study. Cell biologist George Otto Gey took one cell from Henrietta Lacks sample, allowed that cell to divide, and found the culture survived indefinitely if given nutrients and a suitable environment. The original cells continued to mutate. Now, there are many strains of HeLa, all derived from the same single cell. Researchers believe the reason HeLa cells dont suffer programmed death is because they maintain a version of the enzyme telomerase that prevents gradual shortening of the telomeres of chromosomes. Telomere shortening is implicated in aging and death. Notable Achievements Using HeLa Cells HeLa cells have been used to test the effects of radiation, cosmetics, toxins, and other chemicals on human cells. They have been instrumental in gene mapping and studying human diseases, especially cancer. However, the most significant application of HeLa cells may have been in the development of the first polio vaccine. HeLa cells were used to maintain a culture of polio virus in human cells. In 1952, Jonas Salk tested his polio vaccine on these cells and used them to mass-produce it. Disadvantages of Using HeLa Cells While the HeLa cell line has led to amazing scientific breakthroughs, the cells can also cause problems. The most significant issue with HeLa cells is how aggressively they can contaminate other cell cultures in a laboratory. Scientists dont routinely test the purity of their cell lines, so HeLa had contaminated many in vitro lines (estimated 10 to 20 percent) before the problem was identified. Much of the research conducted on contaminated cell lines had to be thrown out. Some scientists refuse to allow HeLa in their labs in order to control the risk. Another problem with HeLa is that it doesnt have a normal human karyotype (the number and appearance of chromosomes in a cell). Henrietta Lacks (and other humans) have 46 chromosomes (diploid or a set of 23 pairs), while the HeLa genome consists of 76 to 80 chromosome (hypertriploid, including 22 to 25 abnormal chromosomes). The extra chromosomes came from the infection by human papilloma virus that led to cancer. While HeLa cells resemble normal human cells in many ways, they are neither normal nor entirely human. Thus, there are limitations to their use. Issues of Consent and Privacy The birth of the new field of biotechnology introduced ethical considerations. Some modern laws and policies arose from ongoing  issues surrounding HeLa cells. As was the norm at the time, Henrietta Lacks was not informed her cancer cells were going to be used for research. Years after the HeLa line had become popular, scientists took samples from other members of the Lacks family, but they did not explain the reason for the tests. In the 1970s, the Lacks family was contacted as scientists sought to understand the reason for the aggressive nature of the cells. They finally knew about HeLa. Yet, in 2013, German scientists mapped the entire HeLa genome and made it public, without consulting the Lacks family. Informing a patient or relatives about the use of samples obtained via medical procedures was not required in 1951, nor is it required today. The 1990 Supreme Court of California case of Moore v. Regents of the University of California ruled a persons cells are not his or her property and may be commercialized. Yet, the Lacks family did reach an agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding access to the HeLa genome. Researchers receiving funds from the NIH must apply for access to the data. Other researchers are not restricted, so data about the Lacks genetic code is not completely private. While human tissue samples continue to be stored, specimens are now identified by an anonymous code. Scientists and legislators continue to wrangle with questions of security and privacy, as genetic markers may lead to clues about an involuntary donors identity. References and Suggested Reading Capes-Davis A, Theodosopoulos G, Atkin I, Drexler HG, Kohara A, MacLeod RA, Masters JR, Nakamura Y, Reid YA, Reddel RR, Freshney RI (2010). Check your cultures! A list of cross-contaminated or misidentified cell lines.  Int. J. Cancer.  127  (1): 1–8.Masters, John R. (2002). HeLa cells 50  years on: The good, the bad and the ugly.  Nature Reviews Cancer.  2  (4): 315–319.Scherer, William F.; Syverton, Jerome T.; Gey, George O. (1953). Studies on the Propagation in Vitro of Poliomyelitis Viruses. J Exp Med (published May 1, 1953). 97 (5): 695–710.Skloot, Rebecca (2010). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Crown/Random House.Turner, Timothy (2012). Development of the Polio Vaccine: A Historical Perspective of Tuskegee Universitys Role in Mass Production and Distribution of HeLa Cells.  Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.  23  (4a): 5–10.

The Fundamental Roles Of Leadership And Organizational Change

The fundamental roles of leadership are to affect change and to enhance their follower decision and actions. According to Northouse (2013) leadership is defined as a process where an individual influence a group of individuals to achieve a common goal (p.5). Within my organization, my leadership approaches are prevalent to the mission, vision, and goals for the Los Angeles County, Child Support Services Department. In particular, my leadership role consists of supporting and achieving consensuses with the child support community. The decision I make on a daily basis should display positive leadership traits and characteristics, which includes understanding, identify and enhancing organizational effectiveness. For the purpose of this paper, I will synthesize, evaluate, and apply concepts theories and strategies relation to leadership and organizational change. 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The Heroic Significance of Christ in The Dream of the Rood...

The Heroic Significance of Christ in The Dream of the Rood Incorporating traditional Anglo Saxon beliefs of heroism with the image of Christ on the cross allows the poet of The Dream of the Rood to effectively communicate the benefits of Christianity to pagan warriors. By comparing characteristics, duties, and treatment of heroes in Beowulf and the Battle of Maldon to the depiction of Christ in The Dream of the Rood, it becomes evident that the image of Christ is altered to mirror that of heroic warriors. Through this melding of heroic beliefs and Christianity, the poet of Rood is able to show how Christ can become the ultimate ring giver or Lord. Dominant characteristics of heroes in Beowulf and The Battle of Maldon revolve†¦show more content†¦The Christ depicted in this passage willingly accepts his battle on the cross and because of this act the poet then goes on to describe Christ as a warrior, strong, and stouthearted. Christ is not portrayed as a meek and humble man resigned to his task as savior and lord. Within this portion of the text, he becomes a bold warrior climbing the cross as if going into battle. At the end of the poem, the narrator looks to Christ and the cross for protection. Furthermore, the primary duty of a hero is to provide his kinsmen with great treasure and weaponry. Beowulf fulfills this duty by stating Behold this treasure #8230; that I have been allowed to leave my people#8230; (Beowulf 91) to Wiglaf after defeating the dragon. The warriors in The Battle of Maldon describe their Lord and hero as a treasure-giver, and also a ring-giver. The warriors in both of these texts reflect on all that their lords or heroes provide for them. It is through this gratification for material wealth that kinsmen feel so indebted to fighting for their lord. Wiglaf illustrates this concept when he remembers the bountiful gifts bestowed upon him (Beowulf 88) and finds that he could not hold back (Beowulf 88) from his lords side. Christ also fulfills this duty of a hero by bestowing many wonderful gifts and treasures upon any man who will follow Him faithfully. The treasures described in the poemShow MoreRelatedAn Assortment Of Heroism : Sir Gawain And The Gre en Knight1171 Words   |  5 PagesSteven Brent Bunn ENG 261-02 3/21/2016 Research Project An Assortment of Heroism Theme is essential to any great work of literature, and while the following are certainly very different tales, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Beowulf and The Dream of the Rood each have particularly strong themes of heroism, though, they each have their own distinct idea of what heroism is, their own flavor one might say. It is partly because of their strong themes and ideas that they are still well-known and readRead MoreAnglo-Saxon Heroic Poetry5673 Words   |  23 Pagesthe Heroic, the sources of which are pre-Christian Germanic myth, history and custom; and the Christian. Heroic, or Epic Poetry belongs to one of these two types and refers to long narrative poems celebrating the great deeds of one or more legendary heroes, in a grand, ceremonious style. In its strict use by literary critics, the terms Heroic Poetry or Epic are applied to a work that meets the following criteria: such a poem must be related in an elevated style, and centered upon a heroic or quasi-divineRead M oreThe Importance Of Heroism In Beowulf1073 Words   |  5 Pagespagan story with Christian overlays or a Christian story with pagan overtones, and these stances have been debated upon for a very long time. Nonetheless, the fact that the writer tries to hide a religious culture underneath another holds great significance. Religion only influences Beowulf because of its importance, its symbolic essentiality and the writer’s aim to a pass a message, creating a grim picture through characterization to his audience. Religious beliefs like Paganism, Christianity, TotemicRead MoreThe King of Kings2050 Words   |  8 PagesIn the Bible, Jesus Christ, the embodiment of the Christian God is described as the â€Å"King of Kings†. Christians since before the dream of Constantine have believed God and Christ constitute a ruler of the universe. Anglo-Saxon society perceived the Christian God in the mold of the pre-Christian Germanic tradition of kingship. The Anglo-Saxon percepti on of God as a king in the Germanic tradition has tremendous significance on late Anglo-Saxon politics. The inclusion of the Christian deity in the leadership

Emily Dickinson Presents Suffering free essay sample

After great pain a formal feeling comes’ and ‘I felt a funeral in my brain’ and ‘There’s a certain slant of light’- Throughout Dickinson’s poem ‘After great pain a formal feeling comes’ she attempts to communicate to the reader the nature of the suffering she is encountering that comes ‘after great pain’. This first line is the only abstract statement throughout the poem, to express that this is obviously not a physical pain. She refers to the physical nerves in her body ‘sit ceremonious like tombs’ a comparison that symbolises the effects of this suffering, a tomb being associated with qualities related to the dead. These qualities are stillness and formality, which reflect the physical numbness she is experiencing as a consequence. This sense of numbness is confirmed throughout the poem when mechanical feet are described abstractly walking in a ‘wooden way’ to reflect that they now have no regard for where they land, while indicating that this path they take is conceptual as it is physical. This comparison between the physical and mental components of suffering is intertwined within Dickinson’s poem ‘I felt a funeral in my brain’ when her dramatization of mental anguish, leads to a metaphorical drop. This results in the narrator’s physical form ‘finished knowing’ and sinking into a protective numbness. This concept is also explored within ‘Theres a certain slant of slight’ which Dickenson used as a metaphor for tuberculosis, in a time in her life when many of the people surrounding her fell victim to the disease, meaning without todays knowledge of germ theory, it would result in death. Dickenson throughout the poem moves from descriptions of ‘cathedral tunes’ to ‘internal difference’ to form a contrast between the external and internal elements surrounding life. This is also to reflect the nature of the illness tuberculosis, in which there were no physical signs of pain but instead metaphorical scarring that changed the victim completely ‘internally’. Dickenson also explores the theme of suffering as being a complete state of mind throughout ‘After great pain a formal feeling comes’ a poem centred on the feelings within, while lacking persona or ritual seen in her other poems. She reflects this through her personification of various parts of the body such as the ‘nerves’ ‘heart’ and ‘feet’ a generalisation that allows the reader to assume this pain has to be internal and beyond her physical form. This theme is also within ‘I felt a funeral in my brain’ when Dickenson describes a ‘service and a ‘box’ to vaguely relate this pain to the actions performed at a funeral. However Dickenson uses the metaphor ‘creak across my soul’ which is not typically associated with this ceremony to reflect the internal trance like state the narrator has entered as a result of this pain. This then causes her to enter a place of ‘wrecked, solitary’ when a ‘plank in reason, broke’ which forces the narrator to become a lifeless form, incapable of perceiving the external factors surrounding her. Dickinson also presents the speaker being an object within ‘I Felt a funeral in my brain’ while portraying her as submissive to this form of suffering. This is evident when she recalls ‘then I heard them life a box, And creak across my soul’ to indicate a lack of control those surrounding the dying face when entering the numerous stages of suffering once the loved one has passed. This theme is also explored within ‘Theres a certain slant of light’ when Dickinson describes a ‘Heavenly hurt it gives us’ to suggest this affliction is in the form of a religious experience, that is being forced onto the narrator. This reflects Dickinson’s confusion over her transcendentalist views through her use of the word ‘light’ as a metaphor for tuberculosis, while appearing to blame God for this forceful suffering. In Dickinson’s poem ‘I felt a funeral in my brain’ the whole psychological drama is reflected in the form of a funeral service, however the cause of this intense suffering is never revealed throughout any of her poems. In the fourth stanza of this poem the phrase ‘breaking through’ is used to display mental phenomena, which usually refers to something becoming clear or the narrator may be gaining insight that was hidden to her in the past, which is the outcome of this suffering. The use of repetition when describing the ‘treading, treading’ of the mourners reinforces this idea, becoming a reflection of the self-turmoil the narrator experienced before reaching this understanding. However the coffin like ‘box’ described by Dickenson symbolises the death of rationality and the narrator entering a state close to madness. This loss of self typically comes when ones relationship with people and nature becomes broken, which could be the cause of Dickinson’s personal suffering. The poems regular rhythm and iambic meter being opposed by words such as ‘beating- beating’ also reinforce this idea, adding a rocking quality that could reflect the instability of the  narrator’s sanity. Throughout Dickinson’s poem ‘A certain slant of light’ she also fails to reveal the cause of this suffering consuming her, however she displays the main characteristic of this pain as being oppressive. Her use of words throughout such as ‘oppresses’ ‘weight’ and ‘hurt’ all display this aspect, while her description of the ‘weight of the cathedral tunes’ reflect that her state of mind is causing her to interpret even her external surroundings as oppressive. This communicates to the reader the possibility that this suffering may be Dickinson’s personal response to the realisation into the fact of death. This idea is reinforced in stanza four when she describes ‘Shadows hold their breath’ which is suggestive of the stillness associated with death, in a time when Dickinson’s life was centred on the threat of disease caused by the Tuberculosis epidemic that spread throughout Europe.