The Immortal Woman Who Saved Millions Of Lives | Answers With Joe

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Henrietta Lacks died of cancer in 1951, but her cells mysteriously kept on living. Since then her "immortal" cell line has been the cornerstone of medical breakthroughs that have saved millions.
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LINKS LINKS LINKS:
www.sciencealert.com/how-dead...
www.immunology.org/hela-cells...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henriet...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachyt...
www.statnews.com/2017/04/14/h...
Crash Course: • Henrietta Lacks, the T...
Sci Show: • Immortal Cells Turn 96
www.nature.com/articles/d4158...
www.thenewsrecord.com/index.ph...
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henri...

[@joescott]

Before anybody comments about it, I had the wrong microphone selected for this video so yes, the sound is a little crappy. Sorry.

[@tryrexman8627]

you had the wrong microphone selected

[@JackRazer]

That was literally my first thought. Cathedral voiced Joe. Is it weird that it kind of made this video a bit more indearing lol. You're human Joe! Who would have guessed?!

[@nicholaswallingford3613]

I'll assume that's why when you say "Seine" it sounds like "Somme", which is a different river in France.

[@tehNashty]

Dang it Schmo! Get gud! J/K Great show even with a different mic. Thanks!

[@XXcreeps]

Was about to comment that XD its not bad though, Thanks for the new vid!!! Absolutely love your stuff Joe. You make me look forward to Mondays ☺️

[@Zer0Spinn]

This woman is literally one of the most important humans in history and most people don't know about her.

[@boonxai]

I'll probably get shit on for this, but she was a no one and only her cells are important. Being unlucky as fuck and dying to cervix cancer caused by HPV isn't really something that deserves the title of "one of the most important humans in history"...

[@rbee6507]

@@boonxai I think you are confusing "important" with "accomplished" or maybe "Lucky", "Fortunate", or "Privileged" even...The video just explained why she was one of the most important for almost 15 minutes. Important definition is - marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence : valuable in content or relationship.

[@desperadox7565]

@@rbee6507 I think you are confusing a person with a bunch of cells.

[@rbee6507]

@@desperadox7565 no, I'm not.

[@desperadox7565]

@@rbee6507 I think you are.

[@stuartbogle1722]

The joke in the research community is, "Science has cured every disease known to mice."

[@sinistrality7883]

No Wonder the mfs are Thriving in the harshest conditions, they're super-immune.

[@c2sartinkprinthub757]

yes, they will inherit the world build by proud human..

[@squirlmy]

This is truly so for psychiatric illnesses. You can't ask a mouse, or even a chimp if they still feel depressed, or hearing voices, etc. So many psych drugs were originally used for something else, like seizure medications.

[@41-Haiku]

Known to lab-bred mice, anyway.

[@universecreator988]

Death row prisoners should be experimented on. It's a waste to just kill them off without getting something useful to mankind back.

[@Sydney-Fish-Market]

Thanks to Henrietta Lacks and huge shoutout to her cells, she made our lives less miserable.

[@UltraGamma25]

She's like the real Jesus

[@nathanwindom3978]

@@UltraGamma25 or just a modern Jesus 🤷

[@christianadam2907]

Please do not compare here with a fictional character that is "indirectly" responsible for the suffering of millions of people over the course of 2000 years.

[@charlesevanshughes3638]

@@UltraGamma25 The story of Henrietta Lacks is fascinating, but to compare her with Jesus is insane. Lacks was not the child of God. Lacks did not turn water into wine. Lacks did not die for the sins of all of mankind. Jesus did.

[@michaelw.6780]

@@charlesevanshughes3638 spoiler alert... The story of jesus is fantasy. All you need to do is Google: did historical jesus exist

[@neuroronan]

Hey Joe! I`m a doctor, and I have heard the origin of the HeLa cells several times by now, but this has got to be the most personal and interesting way I have ever seen it be told! I`ll definitely show this to some of my collogues and students! Thanks!

[@debbiem9640]

I became aware of the story as a selection from Oprah’s book club. The book is excellent.

[@clockztickin]

🎶 Are you okay Annie 🎶 just took on an entirely new meaning

[@olivierdugas9682]

The more you know...

[@PlasteredDragon]

I know right?

[@karasene2091]

The song also has a bpm of 117, which is within the range of compressions per minute you're supposed to do for cpr (100-120/min)

[@joaomiranda2858]

The song is called "Smooth Criminal" ;)

[@FranciscoLaprea]

you mean, smooth criminal?

[@lars_larsen]

Joe: "The Immortal Woman Who Saved Millions of Lives" Me: Ah, Henrietta Lacks. Joe: Resuscitation dolls! Me: Wait what?

[@marckyle5895]

The thumbnail lied...and then told the truth! Sneaky!

[@squirlmy]

@@marckyle5895 must be the miracle of Slack! Make one intro do the work of two!

[@thetriceisright7497]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!

[@lakshmiwillowrose5112]

"human tissue tends to like to be inside the human body." quote of my life. thanks for the revelation.

[@alistairbalistair9596]

it aint that deep, gurl. relax

[@aidenmclaughlin1076]

@@alistairbalistair9596 It is a joke dude

[@alistairbalistair9596]

@@aidenmclaughlin1076 shut up, dude

[@Kremit_the_Forg]

@R DOTTIN Well.. since you are made out of molecules, which are made out of atoms, which are mostly empty space...you are in fact, mostly "hollow"/empty space.

[@CKRlll]

Aww, the good ole' peen goes into vagineen philosophy?

[@omegabae1293]

The part that still haunts me is Henrietta's daughter who was sent to a mental hospital, and was experimented on. How she never knew why her mom stopped visiting. And that it was likely that the only thing wrong with her was deafness and epilepsy. That side branch of the story still makes me cry. And the younger sister who learned of her existence long after she had died, and mourned intensely for the sister she never got to meet.

[@KABNeenan]

I'd been taught about HeLa cells several times throughout my childhood and young adult life, but never about where they'd come from. It wasn't until I lived in Turner's Station (where Henrietta lived before she passed) and volunteered with a nonprofit that held a memorial day for her after the book came out. It was incredibly touching, but also heartbreaking to learn about Henrietta and her life. I work at the institution she was treated at and they also hold a memorial for her every year with lectures on medical ethics and community outreach. It's something I think we need to be very aware of as medical technology advances. We must always be mindful of the very human lives that contribute to new technology and we must be conscious of who has access, and who is being left behind.

[@pandapower5902]

At the time when Ms. Lacks had her cancer, tumors were not “given back to the patient.” Tumors were either thrown out, or they were used for research purposes. I have never heard of a patient that wanted to keep their tumor for a souvenir. All of the women who had tumors removed at the time had their tumor tissues sent to the lab for research. They were working with cancer cells only, because cancers have a mutation that makes them keep reproducing and spreading. One of those blobs of cancer surgical specimens finally worked to create the cell line they wanted. This was not so much due to the magic of Ms. lack’s cancer, but because the scientist finally got it right after so many tries. The cell lines were mutated cells derived from a person. They were samples from a bit of cancer that was cut out to try to save her life. It is not clear if they asked her if she would prefer that they throw away the cancer or use it for research. I guess most people would have wanted their cancer to go to research. I would. Nobody gets reimbursed for blood, body fluid, surgical sample, or cadaver used for research. I am baffled by the Lacks family. www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been

[@rivumrejex2864]

And also the power that some of these pharmaceutical companies wield where they think they can bend the laws of ethics to suit there own greedy needs....

[@wolfiemuse]

@@pandapower5902 I think it’s not that it was used for research as much as that technology made from that research made some companies and CEOs rich beyond their wildest dreams without a single thought towards her or her descendants. As Joe mentioned in this video, it perpetuates a very ugly portion of our past; to use something given by the less-fortunate for free (or worse without their knowledge) to make oneself extremely rich.

[@cyanidenightshade]

@@pandapower5902 joe mentioned how much of the familys genome was being publicized, so these people deserve to have a say in their literal dna being used in this manner. i dont understand how someone could watch this entire video and miss that statement

[@pandapower5902]

@@cyanidenightshade because there are other immortal cell lines out there, and they aren't famous like HeLa cells, because they made a huge mistake by using her name

[@curiousworld7912]

The book is fascinating. A person never knows what lasting effect they may have, even long after they're gone.

[@alexstauffer3359]

To paraphrase Night Vale, even if you die you're not gone, not until everyone who knows you and were affected by your life also dies. But even then, you live on, until everyone who knew those people and was affected by them, too, dies. And so on, and so on. Granted, some people cause a larger ripple through the ages than others.

[@curiousworld7912]

@@alexstauffer3359 Well-put. :)

[@Zeldarw104]

Yes, the audible book is great. The immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.💯😑😢

[@pandapower5902]

the book is factually incorrect. An MD who went to John Hopkins explained why: www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been/answer/Amy-Chai-3

[@curiousworld7912]

@Gernot Schrader 99.9% of all humans who have ever lived, do so in obscurity. They live their lives, are hopefully loved by their families, and maybe remembered for a couple of generations. They pass on to whatever comes after, with very few being remembered long after their death - never realizing what effect they may have had on the rest of us. Or, none. And that's okay.

[@drew4021]

I worked with the HeLa cell line while doing my undergraduate biology degree and for years did not know her back story. It's almost taken for granted. It's still amazing to this day that so many students work with this cell line and know nothing of the person they came from. Thanks for posting this

[@gregorymalchuk272]

Have you worked with neonatal fibroblasts?

[@pandapower5902]

or maybe it's not that crazy: At the time when Ms. Lacks had her cancer, tumors were not “given back to the patient.” Tumors were either thrown out, or they were used for research purposes. I have never heard of a patient that wanted to keep their tumor for a souvenir. All of the women who had tumors removed at the time had their tumor tissues sent to the lab for research. They were working with cancer cells only, because cancers have a mutation that makes them keep reproducing and spreading. One of those blobs of cancer surgical specimens finally worked to create the cell line they wanted. This was not so much due to the magic of Ms. lack’s cancer, but because the scientist finally got it right after so many tries. The cell lines were mutated cells derived from a person. They were samples from a bit of cancer that was cut out to try to save her life. It is not clear if they asked her if she would prefer that they throw away the cancer or use it for research. I guess most people would have wanted their cancer to go to research. I would. Nobody gets reimbursed for blood, body fluid, surgical sample, or cadaver used for research. I am baffled by the Lacks family. www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been

[@TwinBleaks]

Same, I worked with her cells too but fortunately, our professor required us to read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴. Such an interesting story but so sad and frustrating that she did not get what she was owed by the medical/scientific community.

[@dropkicksofthemurphys9696]

@@pandapower5902 Looking through the comments, I find it almost funny that you've made this same exact post several times in the replies, even when the original comment isn't about that aspect of the story... Christ on a bike.

[@WheelieTron94]

To me the story of Henrietta Lacks when it's retold can so often leave the human we're talking about behind in the course of exploring the headier concepts like the ethics of the case and the moral background of the time, so I really appreciate throwing in that little detail about her wearing red nails in life, that grounded the whole thing for me in a new light I've not quite experienced before, so thanks for including that.

[@sammyjo8935]

Same, same. A beautiful detail of a life finally being seen.

[@pandapower5902]

No.. the whole thing was just a HIPPA violation but HIPPA didn't exist back then. People donate tissues all the time (aborted fetuses are donated for example) and her tissue was nothing special, the SCIENTISTS are the ones to thank, they had been trying to keep the cells alive and finally figured it out when they got to her's. An MD from John Hopkins explains how the book is 90% misinformation here: www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been/answer/Amy-Chai-3

[@WheelieTron94]

​@@pandapower5902 I don't know exactly what you're replying to in either comment here, or if this is directed at the video. Nowhere in my comment did I pass judgement on the scientists, either positively or negatively, I in fact do appreciate that she was the donor and that the development that has come from that tissue was on the part of the scientists obviously, there is special status to her tissue by the very fact it was with her tissue this was first proved possible. I simply stated that I appreciated the slightly different angle that the story was told in, I've never read this book you have an issue with. Anyway it's "just" an ongoing HIPAA violation, and there's a lot of conversation to be had in the space of tissue rights. I really don't think that's the gotcha link you think it is either, some of that doctor's responses lead me to believe she might have an emotional bias here and I would be hesitant to take that as gospel either, same as the book.

[@pandapower5902]

@@WheelieTron94 her answer was upvoted by an oncologist at Stanford and she went to John Hopkins, I think she sounds emotional because she is frustrated with the misinformation. Anyway it wasn't a HIPPA violation at the time because HIPPA wasn't a thing.

[@WheelieTron94]

@@pandapower5902 "It seems all her husband gave her was the HPV that led to her death from cervical cancer." I'm very hesitant to listen to anyone that wants to include mean spirited asides as part of their responses, no matter how much you would like to appeal to authority. It may not have been a HIPAA violation at the time but under our re-evaluated ethics it is now, and is ongoing as we still use these cells with identifying information intact. Looking through the comments this seems to be a personal crusade of yours, I would suggest you distance yourself from this subject and try and learn a bit more considering you can't get something as basic as the HIPAA acronym right, and that you are emotionally charged enough to copy and paste information in response to anyone that seems to just talk positively about Henrietta Lacks no matter how it actually fits the original comment, I have nothing further to say to you.

[@ronniebauman28]

My PhD dissertation was actually on Henrietta's "HeLa" cells. To give a bit more information on the messiness, scientists also did research on Henrietta's children without their informed consent in the 70's.

[@monicabohn2476]

Wow...were they sitting around like vultures, just waiting to get their hands on her childrens' cells in the hopes of hitting the DNA jackpot? Smh. And how have they not done anything for her descendents? Not for legal reasons...though there are legal reasons...but because it's the right thing to do.

[@samkostos4520]

What is 'messiness' is this like a cute way of saying racist/sexist?

[@spacem0th]

It’s okay you can say racism.

[@Laura-kl7vi]

@@monicabohn2476It wasn't for $$. The scientists were non-profit researchers who drew blood samples, with consent (so they thought) but not what would be nowadays proper informed consent (they didn't explain well enough to the family who at that time had high school diplomas at the most). These people failed them, but they weren't "vultures" making a profit when the got the blood samples from the family, as I read it (I read the book Joe talks about).

[@bobbyjefferson1973]

@@Laura-kl7vi y'all are for profit 📈 all the time stop lying 🤥 and taking up for your racist kkk cousins.

[@mindofmarisa]

I can't imagine saying to my friends "Hey, heard they got a new body at the morgue want to get a group together and go look at it? Maybe get dinner after?" 1800s Paris must have been an interesting time.

[@TheDaniela3112]

It's crazy how people from the medieval to Victorian times were all fascinated by shocking, morbid and violent events. "Freak" shows (that profited off disabled people), public hangings and executions, the mummy fever (rich people collecting mummies for fun and hosting parties where they displayed their collections) etc.

[@ufojules]

I read the book. She was beautiful and amazing. God rest her soul. She saved my life and prevented me from suffering from cervical cancer. I'm glad her and her family have the recognition they deserve. ❤

[@aidenmclaughlin1076]

It is amazing how long her cells have been around and how much they’ve been grown. I love this story.

[@derekdeadlifts2986]

What’s good aiden

[@aidenmclaughlin1076]

@@derekdeadlifts2986 Nothing much. You?

[@jonjudge41]

I appreciate that you covered the way her family was treated.

[@pandapower5902]

from a doctor on quora explaining why her family was in the wrong: At the time when Ms. Lacks had her cancer, tumors were not “given back to the patient.” Tumors were either thrown out, or they were used for research purposes. I have never heard of a patient that wanted to keep their tumor for a souvenir. All of the women who had tumors removed at the time had their tumor tissues sent to the lab for research. They were working with cancer cells only, because cancers have a mutation that makes them keep reproducing and spreading. One of those blobs of cancer surgical specimens finally worked to create the cell line they wanted. This was not so much due to the magic of Ms. lack’s cancer, but because the scientist finally got it right after so many tries. The cell lines were mutated cells derived from a person. They were samples from a bit of cancer that was cut out to try to save her life. It is not clear if they asked her if she would prefer that they throw away the cancer or use it for research. I guess most people would have wanted their cancer to go to research. I would. Nobody gets reimbursed for blood, body fluid, surgical sample, or cadaver used for research. I am baffled by the Lacks family.www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been

[@jonjudge41]

@@pandapower5902 I feel like there's a severe difference between donating organs or a body which is going to be used for research or education and this situation where people are profiting hugely off the sample taken. I'd also point out that in the US people are absolutely reimbursed for blood. Lastly, I don't think that the argument "they used to do it that way so it's fine" holds any weight at all.

[@pandapower5902]

@@jonjudge41 no no.. John Hopkins never profited off of Hela cells and people shouldn't be reimbursed for donating tissues, organs, fetuses, cadavers, etc. Donating plasma is the only thing you can get paid for, not blood. www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/frequently-asked-questions.html The main problem now is that they named them after her. There are many cell lines in use but they aren't named after the donor. Also this as back before HIPAA existed so today that would not happen, and also they didn't ask for her consent, they didn't ask for anyone's consent if they did research on their tumors back then, and now they do.

[@jonjudge41]

@@pandapower5902 I'm not suggesting that Johns Hopkins profited from the cells but considering there's been over 60'000 scientific papers written using the HeLa cell line I think it's safe to assume that someone has made money on them at some point. I realize that there are many different cell lines in use but maybe those people should be rewarded for the use of their genetic material too? I honestly think that this is a part of a much larger debate about what rights you have to your own genetic material. If someone takes your genetic material and uses that to make money what exactly are you entitled to?

[@pandapower5902]

@@jonjudge41 yeah but for every time a discovery is made off of a cell, other cells were used to get to that process, so why shouldnt those donors also get compensated.. It takes lots and lots of cadavers and organs and cells and fetal remains etc. to make a discovery in the long scientific process. Also it's a slippery slope because it can become exploitative very fast. That's why people don't think blood donors should be compensated because then poor people will be seeking it out and will be expoited. For example.

[@deg3363]

Best Black History feature YET👍🏾 Thank you for teaching me Science and History. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@ahsokatano6361]

@Kevin Burrow both statements are true. This person is free to refer to it as Black History in their comment.

[@poolhalljunkie2013]

When I saw the title "the immortal woman" I assumed it was a video about Betty White...

[@grondhero]

Little known fact that Betty White used to be Betty Gray, _until_ she fought a Balrog.

[@bananabot151]

Nah, I figured it was the queen of England

[@heavnnnsent]

😆😆😆

[@larph7270]

"...without their knowledge or consent." Gee, why does this not surprise me at all.

[@Reach41]

Be careful not to spit on the sidewalk, you don’t want to become a victim of someone collecting DNA for research without getting your permission! Also, don’t lick postage stamps, same problem.

[@UltraGamma25]

@Hannah Yepp

[@Reach41]

@Hannah The fact is they could have been cells from anybody’s biopsy from any organ or tissue sample. They didn’t just biopsy black women. It just happened, by chance, to be her cells that behaved so unexpectedly in culture medium, could have as easily been any of the thousands of other biopsy samples run through the histology lab. Had her cell culture not responded the way it did, her tissue sample would have been destroyed along with all the rest. She was not taken advantage of, she was not a victim, she was a patient they did all they could to help. People want to assume she was victimized because she was a black woman so they can be outraged. If it was an identical scenario with anyone else being the cell source, it wouldn’t be news, nobody would care.

[@hiiamelecktro4985]

@@Reach41 The problemen is the lack of consent. They should have asked her family. They should have payed her family.

[@larph7270]

@@Reach41 Thanks for the heads up. If I ever see my "identical twin" I'll know why ;)

[@melaninbaby2271]

It’s so sad that the doctors didn’t tell Lacks’ family until 60 YEARS later smh 🤦🏾‍♀️😤😤😤😤

[@KaosGamer11234]

Lol it wasn’t 60 years, it was more like 20-30 years but yea it’s sad

[@family535computer]

I'm familiar with the story of Henrietta Lacks so I thought about skipping this video. SHAME ON ME!! Your opening story about the face of CPR Annie was great.

[@joecarpenter2447]

It's amazing how a person you've never heard of can change so many things for the better. Really enjoyed this story Joe. Thanks.

[@pandapower5902]

Ugh.. this whole thing is such an exaggerated myth! Really, it's the scientists. Not her. People donate tissue all the time and we aren't compensated for it (aborted fetuses are donated for example) and medical advances happen all the time as a result. Really, the whole thing would just be a HIPPA violation because it was before HIPPA existed. People donate tissues all the time (aborted fetuses are donated for example) and her tissue was nothing special, the SCIENTISTS are the ones to thank, they had been trying to keep the cells alive and finally figured it out when they got to her's. An MD from John Hopkins explains how the book is 90% misinformation here: www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been/answer/Amy-Chai-3

[@jeoltem]

@@pandapower5902 How about you stop spamming? You are not a scientist nor the source of an immortal cell line, sad trolls are many, Henrietta was someone with a legacy that will last until the end.

[@Jermine1269]

What an amazing story! I wonder how many of us could be carrying 'mutations' that could end being life-saving for millions, yet we have no idea?

[@adolfodef]

There are people inmune to Ebola, others to H.I.V. & obviously many who are "invulnerable" to any kind Covid_like virus. -> Of course, the chance of ever DISCOVERING their "superpower" is extremely low [Why would they ever "test" themselves against any of this diseases in a controled way?]

[@debralucas2224]

My left eyeball is at a research institute here in Brisbane Australia. I had ocular melanoma in 2017. I hope it helps somehow...

[@adolfodef]

@@debralucas2224 If you die in the next few years & find yourself UNABLE to "move on" (to ~whatever~ is the next plane of existence); I would sugest you going there to "haunt" the lab researchers or the technitians responsable of keeping your cells alive. -> I would never give this advice to someone who donated an organ (just wait for another "lifetime"), but with this "inmortal" cells... things can get horrifying.

[@debralucas2224]

@@adolfodef Well I can't donate my organs now because I have cancer cells in my blood... so that was the choice I was given... why would I haunt the researchers? The research nurse who asked me for it was a truly wonderful human so it was the least I could do for her. My ptsd is the thing that will require haunting some people lol.

[@thoticcusprime9309]

@@adolfodef zombies? also I wont help doctors or scientists.

[@Leopold5100]

WOW Joe, well done, illuminating a surprising quirk of history that comes to light only because of a book and KZbin and Joe!!!!!

[@DynamicHaze]

There was a movie and Oprah winfrey a billionaire reprised the role of Henrietta Lacks

[@anthonyarcanumsanctumregnu9551]

@@DynamicHaze No kidding is Oprah billionaire?🤣

[@defaultlogos2976]

It was taught in my school

[@DynamicHaze]

@@anthonyarcanumsanctumregnu9551 she is actually

[@pandapower5902]

omg, no. the book is factually incorrect BIG TIME. An MD who went to John Hopkins breaks down how it's about 90% misinformation. 1-Tissue donors never receive cash for their donation 2-The cell lines developed from the initial tumor are not “Henrietta” they are mutated and altered. 3-God forbid a blood donor donated blood to a young Bill Gates, and he survived to become rich. Where is the blood donor’s cut? 4-None of the thousands of tissue donors in history have been looked up and told, hey, you should get some of Pfizer’s cash! I am sure you can very quickly see where “speculative donation of human body parts” could become a problem. 5-I know the story I grew up at Hopkins. The only difference between HeLa cells (which are still used) and any other biological developed with research on human tissue is that the scientist honored Henrietta by keeping her name on the tissue. In the HIPPA era, that is verboten. 6-HeLa cells were nothing special. They were simply the first batch of cells the researcher was successful with. What about the hundreds of other human tissue donors that donated tumor so the scientist could perfect the technique that finally worked? 7-What about the family if the researcher? Don’t they deserve a cut of every scientific product known to man? (Answer, NO). Scientists discover things. Pfizer takes them and puts them into production. Scientists never profit off their work unless they develop their own company. 8-Henriettas family deserves nothing. Their claim is ludicrous. The book is sensationalist and wrong. Tissue donors do not create anything. They donate tissue to research. Someone who builds a company will make a profit from their company. They will not donate to every scientist and tissue donor that made their company possible. 9-What about all the fetuses that Planned Parenthood sells to researchers. I’m sure you can see the grisly implications of telling moms that they might hit the jackpot by donating a fetus. That is why we don’t pay people. SMH. 10-The only crime in the HeLa story is keeping her name alive and telling every new crop of kid researchers (like myself) the story behind the cells called HeLa. That ongoing tribute to one bit of research is no longer possible with today’s privacy laws, and it came back to bite Hopkins in the ass. Just get a new batch of cells and be done with it. www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been/answer/Amy-Chai-3

[@opus0872]

I read a book on this topic in my first year of medical school while learning cancer microbiology. I used her cells a few times. Fascinating. RIP Henrietta Lacks, you have changed medicine for ever!

[@Ghoul_bonez]

I almost cried watching this, god I hope wherever Henrietta is now she’s proud of the progress her cells have made for humanity. I feel horrible for her and her family…

[@claressalucas8922]

As a black microbiologist, I sincerely appreciate everything you've said here. I owe Henrietta beaucoup for her contributions to the scientific community. Telling these tales is hard!!

[@abigails1441]

I love this topic. I hadn’t heard of Henrietta Lacks until two years ago when I did a research project on her. Now, I keep hearing about her. First, we discussed HeLa cells in my anatomy class, now this. It’s an incredible and tragic story. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is a great read though

[@dmanvell]

Also check out Adam Curtis' documentary, The Way of All Flesh. It's brilliant.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

How about the immortal life of circumcised/genitally mutilated infant boys whose genitals are harvested for neonatal fibroblasts to be sold to the biotech and cosmetics industries?

[@squirlmy]

@@gregorymalchuk272 what about them? Maybe circumcision isn't so great, but it does give some protection against some venerial diseases.

[@pandapower5902]

No.. the whole thing was just a HIPPA violation but HIPPA didn't exist back then. People donate tissues all the time (aborted fetuses are donated for example) and her tissue was nothing special, the SCIENTISTS are the ones to thank, they had been trying to keep the cells alive and finally figured it out when they got to her's. An MD from John Hopkins explains how the book is 90% misinformation here: www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been/answer/Amy-Chai-3

[@lizcaldwell5685]

I am so glad you have chosen her. More people need to know why we owe her so much.

[@diyeana]

I love the story of Henrietta Lacks. It is disturbing and interesting (edit: remarkable). Thank you for covering her.

[@lakshmiwillowrose5112]

@melissa bigmac yes it's quite disturbing! my question is joe, can we have some uplifting and non-disturbing stories? some chicken soup for the youtube soul?

[@mlc4495]

Yeah, I'd heard of Henrietta Lacks a while ago but even know the story continues to weird me out. It's like something out of Resident Evil.

[@UltraGamma25]

Disturbing is how the people in her life abused her body, from doctors to her husband. Sickening really

[@analogmatrix1442]

@@lakshmiwillowrose5112 you sound like an undercover “Karen” asking someone like Joe to cater to your sensitive desires. Like Vision says “Grief is the perseverance of love” so asking for only feel good stories and not appreciating things for how they are show how ugly of a person you are. And I know this will offend you instead of enlightening you further perpetuating your moral ignorance. Have a great day!

[@ahsokatano6361]

@@analogmatrix1442 the fact that they said "some" and not "only" feel good stories, puts your entire strawman assumptions of her character in the garbage, where it belongs.

[@DerptyDerptyDUM]

Her story always makes me tear up. Thanks Joe, well done. ❤

[@DerptyDerptyDUM]

@@pandapower5902 Not sure what that has to do with my comment?

[@azzuo6957]

Cant wait to tell my friends Michael Jackson got "annie are you okay" from a girl that committed suicide 100 years before he was born

[@munchkette]

He actually got it from cpr training he watched when he visited a hospital

[@azzuo6957]

@@munchkette well obviously but that wouldn't have happened if the girl didn't have her face molded, that's the point I'm making

[@grondhero]

@@azzuo6957 It's not known how she died, so you can't claim suicide. Unless you have an authoritative source you could link?

[@pennydaytreasures8173]

Wow Joe, thank you so much for sharing! Thank you Henrietta!!! ❤️🥰❤️

[@lilyn2341]

"in later years, when involuntary disembowelment became - you know - frowned upon" 😝

[@joanbowden3448]

Ahhhhhh, good times!🤣🤣

[@fajaradi1223]

I guess thats what people like to watch before movie cinema was invented.

[@caleb131186]

I’ve been in the medical community for 8 years and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of this. Truly astounding what one person can unknowingly do for humanity.

[@steverioux1897]

Thanks for adding the context for this story!

[@truthseeker60403]

Wonderful story. Thanks!!!!!!

[@VegasBrent]

I've heard a few histories of Henrietta, but this is a fantastically concise summary as usual Joe - Thank you for sharing with the community!

[@Mark13091961]

Remarkable stories, well worth telling. Great job

[@LEDewey_MD]

This video just blew me away. Thanks for making it.

[@BarryTGash]

Another criminally smooth presentation Joe!

[@mellowlove7130]

I see what you did buddy😏

[@garybrotherton5732]

Probably the finest video you have ever done, Joe. Thanks so much!

[@kayleighlehrman9566]

Rest in Power, Mrs. Lacks. Rest in Power, Henrietta.

[@misternewoutlook5437]

Ha... it is "history that deserves to be remembered."

[@analogmatrix1442]

To add to your thought; It’s history that needs to be taught in mainstream public education. As a society we talk about being a “melting pot” but we need more history like this to drive the point home. Many white men that “invented” important things or made “discoveries” did so because they bought the patent from diverse people who did not have the means to carry out the idea.

[@pixeldragon6387]

Now I NEED to have a THG/AWJ cross over.

[@riggs20]

Haha! Love The History Guy too! 👊🏻

[@jakobfromthefence]

Hm. I think he does have a bit about Henrietta. 🤔

[@wolfvale7863]

@@analogmatrix1442 Any examples?...I can't think of one.

[@reflect7559]

Lovely video, Joe. Thank you for making and sharing this

[@annafoley934]

Very moving stories today - and beautifully told. Thank you

[@Coastfog]

0:36 "long canoe de la son" Thank you, automatic captions, thank you very much!

[@meganh4011]

Thank you Henrietta💞

[@ItsRobxor]

You are one hell of a storyteller sir! Some of your best work! Beautifully told!

[@minnesotafolk8722]

Great job Joe! Thanks for the post!

[@plantemor]

Thank you for your contribution to humanity, Henrietta! :)

[@mrsfuzzykitten]

This is one of my favorite medical stories. I've followed it for some time. Thank you for covering it!

[@stephenghudson6179]

This video was very touching and really made my day. Thanks man.

[@mocko69]

Great video as always, I love especially these 'history&mysteries' ones. Keep it up!

[@bimblinghill]

Great vid. Reading her epitaph made me quite emotional.

[@adolfodef]

_"...her soul still BOUNDED to this mortal realm... ¿FOREVER?"_

[@MGForums]

Doesn’t exist. Soles do though. 😊

[@boonxai]

@@MGForums It can't be proven that souls don't exist, so that's a pretty unscientific way of looking at things, but I agree, feet are pretty hot

[@MGForums]

@@boonxai if it can’t be proven to exist then we can assume it doesn’t exist otherwise I could make up any old BS and just say prove it doesn’t exist. Haven’t you heard of the “burden of proof”?

[@boonxai]

@@MGForums Everything is possible, some things are just less likely to actually be a thing. Saying that souls, god, etc. for sure don't exist is just ignorant. Sure you can't prove it now, but what if in two thousand years technology gets to the point where it could be proven, you'd look pretty stupid then :). There are millions of examples in history where people thought some things are impossible and don't exist, but a lot of those things actually are a thing.

[@MGForums]

@@boonxai example?

[@labellemike]

Thank you for another great video! I appreciate the time it takes to research, write a script, and direct a video. Knowledge is power! Shout out o Henrietta Lacks and her family

[@Out_on_a_Limb_Life]

Two amazing stories I've never heard before. Thanks Joe!

[@jbirdmax]

Damn you! Now I can’t get the song “Smooth Criminal” out of my head.

[@jessicap4998]

There a many other cell lines. I worked with one in college called CHO- Chinese Hamster Ovaries. Mrs. Lacks lives on forever, having saved millions of lives.

[@pandapower5902]

And there are donated tissues that lead to medical advances constantly. Hela cells were nothing magical or special. The scientists just figured out how to keep them alive finally when they go to her's. The whole thing would just be a HIPPA violation in modern times and that's the end of the story. People donate tissues all the time (aborted fetuses are donated for example) and her tissue was nothing special, the SCIENTISTS are the ones to thank, they had been trying to keep the cells alive and finally figured it out when they got to her's. An MD from John Hopkins explains how the book is 90% misinformation here: www.quora.com/Why-did-the-family-of-Henrietta-Lacks-believe-that-scientists-were-profiting-from-her-healer-cells-from-the-cancer-tumor-removed-to-save-her-How-did-basic-medical-research-of-sharing-samples-that-would-have-been/answer/Amy-Chai-3

[@jessicap4998]

@@pandapower5902 HIPPA would go through the roof today if this happened, no doubt! And I that looks like an interesting artivle I want to read it. But Hela was/is special because it doesn't die. Normal cells divide a maximum amount of times, then die, no matter how well you treat them. Hela just keep on dividing no matter what. They will even contaminate other cell cultures if you aren't careful. We now know why they don't die off, and other cell lines have been established. But Hela was the first, and thus it is famous.

[@pandapower5902]

@@jessicap4998 I think though the Dr., Dr. George Gey had also finally figured out how to keep the dish and all that in the right condition and that was a big factor too. in the book it says: Then, in 1953, a geneticist in Texas accidentally mixed the wrong liquid with HeLa and a few other cells, and it turned out to be a fortunate mistake. The chromosomes inside the cells swelled and spread out, and for the first time, scientists could see each of them clearly. -Rebecca Skloot, www.promegaconnections.com/hela-5/ but yeh, on wiki it says: HeLa cells, like other cell lines, are termed "immortal" in that they can divide an unlimited number of times in a laboratory cell culture plate as long as fundamental cell survival conditions are met (i.e. being maintained and sustained in a suitable environment (wiki) .. so yeah I think they had perfected the survival conditions for the cells, but that her cells were still unusual even compared to other cancer cells because they reproduced so fast and are so durable.

[@sarahhayes9906]

Wow This moved me to tears. You told Henrietta's story very well. 👏🏻

[@thetruth1862]

This my friends is how it is done,EXCELLENT SHOW, well written, well researched and a great delivery!!!!

[@jordaneggerman4734]

Wow. That intro took a turn from the bizarre, to the truly remarkable! I usually try to wait to comment, but you know how to hook 'em, Joe! Keep making these HQ vids, man; you're one of the best out there!

[@teemuleppa3347]

as a huge MJ fan...i love the trivia about the origins of annie are you ok !! thanks

[@naterobinson5141]

Thanks for telling this story, Joe

[@bloodandempire]

Thanks Joe for sharing a very important story

[@dereksimpson1284]

That's ashame. Her family deserves more

[@secularmonk5176]

Do the children of millionaires "deserve" their inheritance? All the Lacks family did was be related to Henrietta ... While it is NOT ok to leave patients uninformed of what researchers are extracting from their bodies, if we paid everyone in medical research for what is found to be useful, research would grind to a halt from expense (and yes, this means I am opposed to corporate efforts to patent genes, etc.) Like Joe said, the OPTICS are icky of a black woman in the time of Jim Crow being kept in the dark about what doctors were doing, but it's not really much of an example of a civil rights violation.

[@Stonegoal]

Everyone deserves free money

[@jakemckee1923]

@@secularmonk5176 it was wrong to not tell them, therefore they should get paid.

[@dereksimpson1284]

@@secularmonk5176 and there were billions of dollars made from her and it seemed like there wasnt hardly any recognition until someone forced the issue.

[@tjscorp]

wow this is bizarre cause I was reading about Henrietta just last night Joe!!

[@shadowstorm9363]

woah, what r the chances 😲😲

[@joanbowden3448]

Joe, like me, is a psycho....I mean psychic!🤣🤣🤣

[@AdeptXR]

Awesome video as always Joe! Thanks for sharing.

[@my3dprintedlife]

What a great video to start my day! Thank you Joe.

[@addisonmartin730]

Thank you for bringing up the ethics of HeLa cells

[@stemartin6671]

Resusci-Anne is the name of the cpr doll we used in St Johns Ambulance cadets

[@susanjohn6506]

This was fascinating. Thank you.

[@Bolivar_Shag_Nasty]

You totally nailed this video. I’m usually somewhat versed on 99% of your video subjects but I still learn new things and you help me think about the subjects in a different way. This video however had me so engrossed and hanging on every word and wanting to learn more. Good job Joe.

[@anothermouth7077]

No wonder MJ kept asking but never got any answer "Annie are you okay"

[@zackjoubert5207]

Imagine how many people have genetic abnormalities that could solve issues just like the HeLa Cell did. I imagine all the genetic info taken by sites like 23 and Me have value.

[@peglor]

It does and a lot of corporations, particularly Chinese ones are buying as much of it up as they can, usually without telling people their data is being reused or even being transferred to another company.

[@KP3droflxp]

That’s the sole purpose of 23 and me. You give some corporations your genes so that they can use it for profit. That’s also why it’s so cheap.

[@zackjoubert5207]

@@KP3droflxp I ponder on those companies a great deal. You're giving them allot of value when they get your genetic info... Picture this, if you will, someone buys this info and developes a weapon that specifically effects people of a certain race. Or they learn weaknesses in certain gene pools attack that. There are millions of scenarios I can think of with genetic info. On the other hand the genomic editing makes up allot of my portfolio along with Tesla and virgin galactic.

[@KP3droflxp]

@@zackjoubert5207 One of the most immediate impacts might be insurance contracts where you might be forced to show you are not predisposed to getting anything serious or they won't insure you/ask absurd rates. But it's of course legit to profit off of corresponding stocks, it'll happen anyway.

[@zackjoubert5207]

@@peglor isn't that crazy? I've long supposed that, like every other service that gathers vast oceans of data, they make use by either selling to the highest bidder, or producing more products that utilize the data.

[@tepenterprises]

I have a friend that is a close relative of Henrietta Lacks, his last name is Lacks. He has pictures of her with his grandmother and everything.

[@staciewilliams9470]

Great stories. Thank you for this video!

[@maxsmodels]

Dr. Robert Stapp takes the prize as the ultimate volunteer for human research. He rode the rocket sleds himself. A hero to all pilots.

[@anngo4140]

I dont know about you guys but the name "Henrietta" always sounds epic to me

[@sailingonasummerbreeze7892]

Wow....what a fascinating story! Thanks Joe!

[@nsanef]

@joeScott your videos are awesome, thanks for just being you.

[@phillip_iv_planetking6354]

New studies suggest stress from hunger keep us healthier longer. Meaning stop eating large meals.

[@barthee7562]

You're right, caloric restriction is showing very promising results on lifespan, as well as other health factors as obesity and vascular disease. It is important to note, though, that most of these studies have been performed in mice or rats. Next to that, there's also an increased understanding that large meals affects fermentation in the large intestine, often forming unwanted compounds that damage the intestinal wall and lead to health problems (e.g. overeating of unhealthy diets contain a lot of fat and protein, which could cause these problems). Have a nice day :-)

[@antoniopalmero4063]

Ho Joe, another great vid.

[@miamor5929]

Thank you Annie and Henrietta

[@cjdfv]

Super cool history. Thanks, Joe and team!

[@chatonmignon4316]

how rare is it? any other people with cells like that?

[@UltraGamma25]

If you catch herpighonasyphilaids and get ionized materials shoved inside you. Yes

[@Reach41]

Cells like that are dangerous. Each cell division comes with a little DNA damage, which accumulates. Cells only divide around 50 times until they stop dividing, and then die, thus containing DNA damage. Cells that don’t stop dividing (with a few exceptions) are defective, and likely cancerous.

[@Stonegoal]

Its a human cell that acts like a cancer cell.... Ya... its a cancer cell with trait the researchers liked. I bet you could check a few thousand cancer cells and find one similar.

[@Warhawk76]

@@Stonegoal unfortunately getting a new cell line to grow in vitro like that is often difficult, and always time consuming and expensive. Cell cultures are typically grown with 10% FBS (fetal bovine serum) added to provide all the hormones and such that induce rapid cell division, and last I looked that stuff sells for around $400-500 per liter. Plus all the specially designed plastic flask and bottles, the giant incubators, and of course the time involved, cell culture is expensive as hell. All I am saying is it is easy to vastly underestimate just how difficult it is to start and maintain new cell lines. So the fact that blind luck and good observations gave us the HeLa line is fantastic and would not be easy to replicate.

[@raikupwns243]

Can’t think of any people but there is a sexually transmitted cancer in dogs that dates back thousands of years to the precontact dogs of north and South America.

[@jaymethodus3421]

This is so fucking morbid. My soul would be tortured having my face and likeness used on such a scale without anyone knowing who I was or how I lived... damn

[@JWMCMLXXX]

Both of these stories are mind blowing

[@wasabi42]

what in incredible story. i really hope to see continued compensation to her family and other families who have gone through the same thing.

[@jeromesnail]

Hi Jo! Seine is pronounced [ˈsɛn], like short for senator 'sen'.

[@SeeWildlife]

And Dr Gey is pronounced 'Gay'.

[@mrrandom1265]

As a French speaker, that did hurt my ears. He should check the audio on Google Translate.

[@sherk3286]

@@mrrandom1265 as an english language speaker it hurt my ears lmao

[@lowres96]

Sex dolls hit a little different in victorian times.

[@sidneyhirst1925]

Annie is it ok? lol

[@manons6984]

Amazing video. Amazing stories. I am very glad I could learn about Henrietta Lacks. And L'inconnue de la Seine.. Remarquable.

[@misspiggy6118]

Amazing story indeed. Thanks joe!

[@teipeu9033]

“It’s like somebody looked at her and said, “now that’s a fit corpse.” Who?”

[@andrewjohnson6716]

Resusci-Annie is based on L’Ame Inconnue de la Seine!!!?? “Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft.”

[@dominiqueandre7750]

Thank You Joe 🙏🙏

[@billyborn8432]

I told three people at work to check this out. Great stuff u got man!