The immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks - Robin Bulleri

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2016
  • View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-immorta...
    Imagine something small enough to float on a particle of dust that holds the keys to understanding cancer, virology, and genetics. Luckily for us, such a thing exists in the form of trillions upon trillions of human, lab-grown cells called HeLa. But where did we get these cells? Robin Bulleri tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose DNA led to countless cures, patents, and discoveries.
    Lesson by Robin Bulleri, animation by Brandon Denmark.

ความคิดเห็น • 7K

  • @dogol284
    @dogol284 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13593

    The Good Thing: we have achieved immortality
    The Bad Thing: it’s just cancer

    • @kathytrancan
      @kathytrancan 4 ปีที่แล้ว +569

      the struggles of immortality is real 😩😂

    • @QuackZack
      @QuackZack 4 ปีที่แล้ว +558

      What if you had the choice to be immortal but you had to be entirely cancer 😶

    • @oppressormk2op547
      @oppressormk2op547 4 ปีที่แล้ว +667

      @@QuackZack deadpool headass

    • @deannamccrimmon7805
      @deannamccrimmon7805 4 ปีที่แล้ว +158

      eh she’s not really immortal herself, just her cells are and they barely have any of her DNA in them.

    • @redhood9896
      @redhood9896 4 ปีที่แล้ว +111

      That's how Deadpool works, actually. 😂😂

  • @bobisnotaperson
    @bobisnotaperson 5 ปีที่แล้ว +22662

    Technically, Henrietta Lacks is still alive, as purple cancer lumps. I salute her.

    • @Wasp609
      @Wasp609 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1577

      which i find kinda creepy when you stop and think about it.

    • @v6790
      @v6790 5 ปีที่แล้ว +388

      @@Wasp609 did you just say that you are creepy

    • @Wasp609
      @Wasp609 5 ปีที่แล้ว +251

      @@v6790 lol i forgot to put the s.

    • @catyoga3691
      @catyoga3691 4 ปีที่แล้ว +121

      Wait, so if we give this cell to a person that mean that person will still alive after he/she dead?

    • @samwrihiro
      @samwrihiro 4 ปีที่แล้ว +257

      And people are still infecting her to see if she will die again

  • @cyanfireall7710
    @cyanfireall7710 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3856

    The abuse the was subjected to by John Hopkins wasn't even covered in this video. They never treated her like a patient and were never transparent about what they were doing. The "treatments" that they gave her ended up leaving her infertile

    • @Crunk_Cat
      @Crunk_Cat 2 ปีที่แล้ว +192

      welcome to chemo baby

    • @anonyme4881
      @anonyme4881 2 ปีที่แล้ว +468

      Welcome to 1951
      Ethic medecine started in 1973

    • @unepintade
      @unepintade 2 ปีที่แล้ว +146

      I mean yes, you are infertile when you’re dead

    • @suclox12yearsago56
      @suclox12yearsago56 2 ปีที่แล้ว +87

      Mate there was not a chance in the world that she would survive this super cancer what are you on about

    • @kevincanavan2440
      @kevincanavan2440 2 ปีที่แล้ว +546

      @@suclox12yearsago56 all patients, regardless of their prognosis, are owed ethical, honest treatment. Hopkins treated her as an experiment rather than a human being who was is pain, and were more concerned with studying her than offering palliative care that would have allowed her to better tolerate her final days. The cells harvested from her are a major boon to medicine, but they weren’t taken with informed consent from her or her family.

  • @kyliejay786
    @kyliejay786 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3813

    Got to learn about her in school since I live in Baltimore. It's sad science classes don't teach much about her. Without her, we wouldn't have so many medical advances. Her family deserves compensation.

    • @humaux8457
      @humaux8457 2 ปีที่แล้ว +88

      At the very least some recognition.

    • @theonethathungers5552
      @theonethathungers5552 2 ปีที่แล้ว +81

      Why do they deserve compensation? It always seemed weird how the family would receive compensation for the suffering of a member after they passed. Maybe funeral expenses as they identified the improbability of curing her and focused on the more likely benefits she could bring to science, therefore robbing her of tiny chance to get better, but otherwise, I don’t see the point, or where they deserve it at all. At best it’s minor compensation for mental stress and funeral expenses.
      Plus, science classes won’t teach something like this because it’s relatively irrelevant to many curriculums and it’s a complex topic to cover. You can’t plop down something like this and say literally nothing about it. It would have to be incorporated into a unit, and the immortal tumour doesn’t have relevance in most science class that aren’t post secondary. It’s not sad that classes cannot cover every interesting or noteworthy thing, it’s actually pretty good. Because what’s interesting or noteworthy is subjective and could be less useful than, say, understanding how vaccines work.

    • @timmyturnner7623
      @timmyturnner7623 2 ปีที่แล้ว +155

      @@theonethathungers5552 well medical corporations make billions in cash off of her cells each year which she didn’t even consent too. Her family being compensated is the least they could have done.

    • @notme8652
      @notme8652 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I mean it's pretty simple
      "Henrietta Lacks She died to lung cancer, miraculously her cells kept regenerating"

    • @emilysmith2965
      @emilysmith2965 2 ปีที่แล้ว +117

      Didn’t even watch the video well enough to remember it was cervical cancer… it IS pretty simple there, bud, and you still failed.
      We owe a lot to the Lacks family. Researchers stole her cells and profited from them. That’s all the justification you need for massive compensation.

  • @DiegOoO235
    @DiegOoO235 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8750

    I feel bad for Henrietta, she had the most insane cancer, there was no way she was going to be cured from having that. But, her misfortune is our fortune I guess, we live in a better world thanks to her

    • @Blueninja-xt4ci
      @Blueninja-xt4ci 2 ปีที่แล้ว +311

      May her soul rest in peace.

    • @clarissamiller1525
      @clarissamiller1525 2 ปีที่แล้ว +477

      Not much fortune as I’m sure her family got no sort of recognition or compensation since they didn’t even know they were using it. Super sad. But one can only hope to contribute so much to humanity after death.

    • @ltkmwarthunder
      @ltkmwarthunder 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      1 person's death could save millions of lives :)

    • @Fidder492
      @Fidder492 2 ปีที่แล้ว +110

      @@clarissamiller1525 i don't think he was referring to her family's fortune

    • @clarissamiller1525
      @clarissamiller1525 2 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      @@Fidder492 ah yes. I reread the original comment now. Thanks. Likely replied it while half asleep haha.

  • @willemvandebeek
    @willemvandebeek 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5149

    Thank you, Henrietta Lacks!

    • @Ytremz
      @Ytremz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +94

      +Willem van de Beek Enough with the thank you's, more with the compensation of the family whose cells facilitated this research.

    • @Ytremz
      @Ytremz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +42

      Aquamanic4 Every cent.

    • @Ytremz
      @Ytremz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +101

      Aquamanic4 And the scientists/capitalist pharmaceutical dogs who stole her cells would not have made a cent without her cells.

    • @Ytremz
      @Ytremz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +75

      Sergio Sanchez I think by experimentation you meant exploitation.

    • @Ytremz
      @Ytremz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +91

      Aquamanic4 Taking her cells and using them for commercial purposes without her consent or compensation is theft. This killed her, and her family have nothing to show for it.

  • @8E_3T
    @8E_3T 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1153

    I remember reading about Henrietta and her cells in college. It was so amazing. It was also kinda terrible to read about her cells being used for such amazing science without Henrietta ever consenting to her cells being used this way or her family ever being compensated. Can't remember if her family ever did get compensation, but I remember the book mentioning her family eventually going to court about it. It was nice to see this video mention the unethical history behind the science instead of just glossing it over as if Henrietta and her family never mattered.

    • @nightwinddemon
      @nightwinddemon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +111

      Sorry if this sounds dickish, but sometimes the greater good of many, scratch that, the whole humankind, trumps the selfish wants/need of an individual.
      If I'm the first immortal being on earth, sure I would run to avoid capture because I'm selfish, but I would understand why people chasing me and try to capture me, I wouldn't blame them.

      But in this case she's already dead, cancer killed her. Arguing for the consent of cells of a dead human being and demanding payment or royalty is selfish at best, and gold digging at worst.

    • @MiguelAngel-fw4sk
      @MiguelAngel-fw4sk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@nightwinddemon Totally agree, that's basically putting your own wallet before those millions of lives.

    • @erboch7124
      @erboch7124 2 ปีที่แล้ว +55

      @@nightwinddemon It's moreso acknowledgement than compensation, they kinda just swept everything that happened with her under the rug

    • @nightwinddemon
      @nightwinddemon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@erboch7124 they did hide what they was doing with her cells at the beginning and even experimented on her children, which is very bad I have to admit, but after the whole thing came to light, the name of Henrietta Lacks was everywhere, it was impossible to not hear about her cell line when you study anything biology in college.
      Acknowledgement: checked.
      They did wrong her children though, one time compensation for that, sure, but that's it imo.

    • @erboch7124
      @erboch7124 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@nightwinddemon Yeah but its not a household name, that should be like a high school biology thing and not a college biology thing.

  • @alpacaofthemountain8760
    @alpacaofthemountain8760 2 ปีที่แล้ว +552

    If there's an afterlife I hope she is happy in the knowledge that she has saved thousands, if not million, of lives

    • @metal9076
      @metal9076 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      You can't say that, she's immortal

    • @diakounknown1225
      @diakounknown1225 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@metal9076 huh

    • @lanateam4523
      @lanateam4523 2 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      @@diakounknown1225 she technically is still alive

    • @diakounknown1225
      @diakounknown1225 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@lanateam4523 huh

    • @MammalianCreature
      @MammalianCreature 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@diakounknown1225 cells innit

  • @shauryabasu6703
    @shauryabasu6703 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7751

    HeLa cells are immortal, but Hela is a goddess of death.
    Huh.

    • @user-kb3bm9zu1w
      @user-kb3bm9zu1w 5 ปีที่แล้ว +162

      HEnrietta LAcks = Hela, they're not talking about the goddess

    • @shauryabasu6703
      @shauryabasu6703 5 ปีที่แล้ว +970

      @@user-kb3bm9zu1w YOU DON'T SAY

    • @user-kb3bm9zu1w
      @user-kb3bm9zu1w 5 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      @@shauryabasu6703 XD

    • @poop1064
      @poop1064 4 ปีที่แล้ว +165

      Bunnyz Entertainment r/whooosh

    • @eulaadastraea2160
      @eulaadastraea2160 4 ปีที่แล้ว +69

      Bunnyz Entertainment - r/whoooooooooooosh

  • @bloodaid
    @bloodaid 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4310

    The word "Hela" in Swedish means "to heal". What a coincidence.
    Edit 5 years later:
    Elon Musk = Elon = El On = Electricity On 🤯

    • @jocelynsun4842
      @jocelynsun4842 7 ปีที่แล้ว +176

      Well darn-diggity dang

    • @meocean5499
      @meocean5499 7 ปีที่แล้ว +93

      well HeLa is actually the abreviation to Herietha Lacks.
      and she was a black Lady.

    • @amaka637
      @amaka637 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      +LongJohn Vllasaliu Damn dude o_o Phenomenal.

    • @corbbing
      @corbbing 7 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      Ironically, so does läka.

    • @sealizabrown7228
      @sealizabrown7228 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Huh! Interesting.

  • @benthomason3307
    @benthomason3307 2 ปีที่แล้ว +288

    Glad someone finally explained the "immortal cancers" properly to me. Until now I thought that scientists all over the world were infinitely growing _unkillable_ blobs of cancer.

    • @dotsubmcdoodle2959
      @dotsubmcdoodle2959 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Look up the one around dogs! There's this one dog that's technically been alive through his cancer cells for >10,000 years!

    • @kulled
      @kulled ปีที่แล้ว

      @@dotsubmcdoodle2959 did the 8 people that liked your comment just like it because it sounded like an interesting concept? you will get no relevant results from "one around dog(s)". these people liked a nonsense comment before even seeing if it was true or not lmfao

    • @theanagramman1678
      @theanagramman1678 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      ​@KULLED she's talking about cancerous dog cells. In English they teach about understood subjects. There is enough on the one around dogs that's why 8 people liked her comment

    • @s0d4c4n
      @s0d4c4n 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_transmissible_venereal_tumor

    • @s0d4c4n
      @s0d4c4n 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      CVTV is a transmissible pathogen whose DNA is descended from a single individual canine about 11k years ago.

  • @eddvcr598
    @eddvcr598 2 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    3:22 I love the effect of how instead of skeleton, you see the inner parts of a human cell. Bravo, people who worked on this animation!

    • @buhgingo2933
      @buhgingo2933 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Prolly cus it’s not a human body

    • @meepbeep2464
      @meepbeep2464 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I love it when people gives attention even the smallest of details

  • @adelicioustaco412
    @adelicioustaco412 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3294

    If used incorrectly, the earth will turn purple.

    • @sphinx1659
      @sphinx1659 7 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      A Regular Potato LMAO

    • @Niom_Music
      @Niom_Music 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      A Regular Potato Roflpops

    • @morales8697
      @morales8697 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Nothing Can Stop The Smoozenami Smoozepocalypse, all praise Lord Smozee or be consumed on his return!

    • @AaronDuck
      @AaronDuck 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      A Regular Potato... with a bikini?!

    • @mhizawardyhahalim1127
      @mhizawardyhahalim1127 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Like this 2:35?

  • @bigfootwithinternetaccess2925
    @bigfootwithinternetaccess2925 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5629

    Just wait until the whole universe is a massive purple blob...

  • @MrStreaty122
    @MrStreaty122 2 ปีที่แล้ว +168

    Here’s a question, if her cells are “immortal” meaning they’ve been dividing for 70 years straight with no end in sight, do we know for sure that the dna of those cells hasn’t changed since ‘51? I mean, a serious issue with cell division that this video points out is that eventually errors creep into the code, so are HeLa cells immune codon errors as well? If that’s the case, my next question would be “is it because HeLa cells have so many sets of chromosomes, that they can self correct after each division?”

    • @focusfailing2831
      @focusfailing2831 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      I mean 70 years, thats enough time that technically they aren't even her cells anymore...

    • @amishmittal4536
      @amishmittal4536 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think they can produce their own chromosomes

    • @michealcrossan9302
      @michealcrossan9302 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      I think they stated somewhere that they were always exact copies or something.

    • @user-ij3bx6vr5w
      @user-ij3bx6vr5w 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      They've definitely mutated, the video even states hela cells have around 80 chromosomes.

    • @squidward_tenpoles112
      @squidward_tenpoles112 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      I think it not even human cell anymore, it's have similiar dna of human but different species, it's another being maybe if the cell can be in human form and have consciousness we will have some thing like purple thanos? 😂

  • @moxieann8672
    @moxieann8672 2 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    I actually go to a school named after her! What really sucks is that her family wasn’t just middle class-they were in poverty. Henriettas kids couldn’t even afford healthcare, but certain companys we’re making trillons of dollars.the doctors also A) never told her she would be infertial after the radiation treatment B) continually sent her back home even though she was in horrible pain C) never told her family she was dying-they all thought the doctors were still trying to cure her. I suggest to read “the immortal life of Henrietta lacks” by Rebecca skloot

  • @kaioto5699
    @kaioto5699 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6820

    Scientist: Hey, who took the HeLa samples from the lab fridge?
    Me feasting on some jelly:

    • @kaioto5699
      @kaioto5699 4 ปีที่แล้ว +171

      @@redstrider6814 thank you, you can have mine

    • @Whoops.Allgone
      @Whoops.Allgone 4 ปีที่แล้ว +87

      @@kaioto5699 why is this wholesome

    • @Whoops.Allgone
      @Whoops.Allgone 4 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      @@moistcriticalstan876
      Ok

    • @davengeii5903
      @davengeii5903 4 ปีที่แล้ว +79

      Congrats ur immortal now

    • @crush3crush699
      @crush3crush699 4 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      @@davengeii5903 ok where i can deez cells

  • @UziasLara
    @UziasLara 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2532

    I like how they gave credit to the patient.

    • @EngForArabs
      @EngForArabs 7 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      yea it's stupid

    • @esmeedonders288
      @esmeedonders288 7 ปีที่แล้ว +201

      Adam i don't agree. her body (she) is technically the one who invented this line of cells

    • @rafamilk1
      @rafamilk1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +48

      it is not like she gave the cells on pupose. it is stupid to give credits to her.

    • @esmeedonders288
      @esmeedonders288 7 ปีที่แล้ว +210

      But she's still the one who made them. There are a lot of things invented/discovered by accident (not that i can name some now)

    • @rafamilk1
      @rafamilk1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      if a give you a lemon then you make a lemonade, the best in the entire world you think is right to have credit from the lemonade ?

  • @rosmimathew8335
    @rosmimathew8335 2 ปีที่แล้ว +154

    If you haven't I highly recommend reading 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' it's an amazing book talking about her family life, how scientists discovered the cells, and what her children have to say about her cells

    • @jahnavee_palsodkar
      @jahnavee_palsodkar ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yes, that book is amazing. Highly recommend it to everyone who's watched this video

    • @spunkycat6144
      @spunkycat6144 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I am reading it right now. It needs to be a movie.

    • @sitcomsTV
      @sitcomsTV ปีที่แล้ว

      Did any of her kids had cancer?

  • @Double0hTater
    @Double0hTater 2 ปีที่แล้ว +556

    I actually knew of this, if i’m not mistaken (they may go over this in the video) but she specifically stated she did not want her lab samples to be used past her death, i dont think she even wanted them to be studies to begin with. But Gey was too infatuated with the potential scientific discoveries, as right as he may be, Lacks specifically said she didnt want her cells to be used

    • @CedarHunt
      @CedarHunt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +132

      Good thing nobody listened to her then. I can't imagine the amount of human suffering that boneheaded move would have brought into the world.

    • @Meatbrawl
      @Meatbrawl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +76

      ​@@CedarHunt Ignoring peoples rights always serves in the reduction of human suffering.... But hey there's enough profit and a good PR spin on this, so let's all be idiots who support people doing whatever they want to whomever they want so long as they get results.

    • @notme8652
      @notme8652 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@Meatbrawl do you drive an electric car?

    • @javierflores09
      @javierflores09 2 ปีที่แล้ว +48

      @@Meatbrawl to be fair, this was in an era where you had the option to be unethical about it. Nowadays you would never go against a patient wishes no matter how much it would be of an advancement for us as society

    • @aleksanderjohansen2008
      @aleksanderjohansen2008 2 ปีที่แล้ว +99

      Well.. There are times when you get scientific oppertunities that are just too important to not pursue. Yes, It's important to respect human rights and so on, but what if you have the potential cure for cancer right in front of you? Are you seriously just gonna give that up because some dude didn't want you to take a cell sample?

  • @Nthryy
    @Nthryy 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5470

    What if Hella’s cell are trying to reconstruct themselves to re make Hella

    • @eyesofwater123
      @eyesofwater123 4 ปีที่แล้ว +725

      That would be terrifying.

    • @samanthaclaremejia7975
      @samanthaclaremejia7975 4 ปีที่แล้ว +143

      Hope so

    • @josephstephan2077
      @josephstephan2077 3 ปีที่แล้ว +245

      I guess that when she was alive they (hela-cells) had been trying to do the opposite thing.

    • @okboomer5274
      @okboomer5274 3 ปีที่แล้ว +292

      That would be one "hella" of a surprise
      See what I did there?....

    • @lourdthebluefoxie
      @lourdthebluefoxie 3 ปีที่แล้ว +58

      @@okboomer5274 ok zoomer

  • @therealbenjamin789
    @therealbenjamin789 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5768

    Let's talk about how her family never got any kind of settlement

    • @gregorymalchuk272
      @gregorymalchuk272 4 ปีที่แล้ว +151

      Boys mutilated genitals are cultured for stem cells to produce collagen for vain women's cosmetics, and they don't receive any compensation either.

    • @teehee4096
      @teehee4096 4 ปีที่แล้ว +350

      Gregory Malchuk if you’re referring to circumcision, foreskins are not used for cosmetics but rather as sources of replacement skin for burn patients.

    • @gregorymalchuk272
      @gregorymalchuk272 4 ปีที่แล้ว +82

      @@teehee4096
      It's used in both and its even more unethical. Organ farming and harvesting and profiteering need to get life imprisonment.

    • @MT-iv5nc
      @MT-iv5nc 4 ปีที่แล้ว +132

      Why? They don't own cancer and they didn't do anything to deserve the money.

    • @teehee4096
      @teehee4096 4 ปีที่แล้ว +326

      M T It’s made of her cells with her DNA, they do deserve settlement

  • @GoldenTheme443
    @GoldenTheme443 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    She’s the definition of a God Send. She’s the reason we have so much. Her existence brought us so much.

  • @amandafails7267
    @amandafails7267 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    She was a gift and still is

  • @AbhilashNoxBaruahnx1ee7
    @AbhilashNoxBaruahnx1ee7 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1163

    Well that was 4 and a half minutes of very very intriguing information.

    • @foubrac7173
      @foubrac7173 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Abhilash `Nox` Baruah If you want more than that you should read “The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks”

    • @taakotuesdays
      @taakotuesdays 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Fred Keys lol I have to read that for class this year

    • @sm1lt3
      @sm1lt3 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      You mean 4 minutes and 26.2 seconds ?

    • @Ishumishupdates
      @Ishumishupdates 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@sm1lt3 round the numbers

  • @yanli8436
    @yanli8436 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2780

    I actually read the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and there's alot of info they aren't telling you here

    • @arahan-mk2zy
      @arahan-mk2zy 4 ปีที่แล้ว +58

      @@Eee12388 i think what you said is already in the video, not just elaborated but we get the thought

    • @spooky2526
      @spooky2526 4 ปีที่แล้ว +658

      Well the point of these videos is to make them simple and short so they can reach people that generally wouldn't be interested In this stuff so it makes sense that it misses some specific details or complex info

    • @ritav793
      @ritav793 3 ปีที่แล้ว +257

      I found it odd how they thank her when she was not even asked. Yea thanks for lettings us steal your cells!

    • @fartiscle
      @fartiscle 3 ปีที่แล้ว +216

      @@ritav793 But is it worth saving millions of lives? And plus, it was a tumor so it had to be taken out of her body right?

    • @glassesb5199
      @glassesb5199 3 ปีที่แล้ว +61

      Agree Yan. I have not read the book but am aware of the ethics issues towards Henrietta and the manner in which the cells were harvested. Patients these days, beware of false imprisonment

  • @AntonioMooreworldleaderSerious
    @AntonioMooreworldleaderSerious 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Thank you Henrietta lacks. You don't lack anything

  • @juliennejusi8948
    @juliennejusi8948 2 ปีที่แล้ว +118

    My biology teacher discussed this and I remember the night of that day, before going to sleep, I thanked Henrietta Lacks. 💖

    • @mikoi7472
      @mikoi7472 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      No, you should thank the researchers who actually were able to utilize them. Not someone who just had cancer and was an unlikely find.

    • @farleydbear
      @farleydbear 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      hug the busdriver

  • @Ytremz
    @Ytremz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +601

    *And yet, they won't pay the Lacks family one cent.*

    • @VovoMark666
      @VovoMark666 8 ปีที่แล้ว +70

      +Ytremz They should pay for Henrietta's work for all these years? For Henrietta's cancer sample? I think they just need keep working and find new uses for it..

    • @nashwa7039
      @nashwa7039 8 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      +Ytremz Her family can't even afford health insurance.

    • @Ytremz
      @Ytremz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +82

      Vovô Mark Simply put, yes. The Lacks family should be proportionately compensated, based upon all of the profits generated from any product/research that has been developed and commercialized, indirectly or directly as a result of using Henrietta's cells.

    • @cwcorella
      @cwcorella 8 ปีที่แล้ว +52

      +Ytremz Well, if she donated her body to science, it's perfectly legal. How would you feel if you had to pay an organ donor's family for the heart you receive?
      "So long as body parts are not removed illegally during an autopsy, the state has discretion over them and is not required to notify the families."
      th-cam.com/video/qVLE4J64UfQ/w-d-xo.html

    • @Ytremz
      @Ytremz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      umer salim A middle eastern individual like yourself using racist terminology is both ironic and comical.

  • @MinecraftCutiepie
    @MinecraftCutiepie 8 ปีที่แล้ว +696

    How come we don't learn about Henrietta Lacks in school. Her mutated cells still exist today, that's incredible!

    • @naryosh_
      @naryosh_ 7 ปีที่แล้ว +157

      They don't teach it in school because nobody likes to talk about the societal contributions of black people other than the most popular ones.

    • @naryosh_
      @naryosh_ 7 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      I hate that they don't.

    • @naryosh_
      @naryosh_ 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      BlueBerryKing You'd be surprised

    • @Vk-jw2hl
      @Vk-jw2hl 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      BlueBerryKing because i don't give a shit and how is this gonna help me in life ME NOT Another PERSON THAT A DONT EVEN FUCKING KNOW school is already shit why do u need to make it more shitty

    • @MinecraftCutiepie
      @MinecraftCutiepie 7 ปีที่แล้ว +52

      vice king If you don't pay attention to school anyway, why do you care? What difference does it make?

  • @atomic_tubetop
    @atomic_tubetop ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Her book is mad depressing. I read it in middle school and it is still with me to this day

  • @mashasmelkova8870
    @mashasmelkova8870 2 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    The funny thing is, my class and I are reading about her right now, so this will be very useful to have!

  • @harveychallinor367
    @harveychallinor367 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2200

    thats hela cool

  • @kap5571
    @kap5571 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3422

    How have I never been taught this in my biology classes?

    • @ariagomezr
      @ariagomezr 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @Jesse Cimino samee

    • @veryconfused9768
      @veryconfused9768 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      I wasn't taught either

    • @ItsssElsa
      @ItsssElsa 2 ปีที่แล้ว +142

      Because this microbiology not biology 😂

    • @thaumatomane
      @thaumatomane 2 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      @@ItsssElsa I learnt about microbiology in biology class at least since grade 11, and maybe earlier.

    • @-Subtle-
      @-Subtle- 2 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      How have you not paid attention in biology class while ignoring your English teacher's crossover reading assignment of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
      You're a terrible student.

  • @thenerdbeast7375
    @thenerdbeast7375 2 ปีที่แล้ว +167

    I feel this video could have had more emphasis on how they did all this without Hentrietta's permission and her family didn't know about it for years.
    While I salute her contribution to science, it is a good example of how the rights of individuals, especially poc, have traditionally been violated in the pursuit of research.

    • @theboxygenie
      @theboxygenie 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Half the video is literally about that.

    • @Matt-pp6qp
      @Matt-pp6qp 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@theboxygenie not really, they more talked about the significance of the cells themselves.

    • @resumepeacetalks600
      @resumepeacetalks600 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Wait till you hear about how advances in gynecologic surgery were due to experiments on slaves.

    • @shiftyclouds9591
      @shiftyclouds9591 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      This video is talking about Henrietta's cells not Henrietta. If you want things about rights and sensitive topics like that you can find another video.

    • @koharumi1
      @koharumi1 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Well she is dead so might be a bit hard...

  • @c.melvin7716
    @c.melvin7716 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    when i was in 5th grade i met her grandson when he came to fix our school computers. it was a cool experience because you never think something like that could be experienced in a baltimore public school. that was abt 6 years ago but definitely was something memorable. (edit: great grandson i’m pretty sure*)

  • @chrisamon9645
    @chrisamon9645 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1330

    This sounds like the start to some science fiction movie where the HeLa cells just keep dividing and growing until they're like some super blob monster covering the world.

    • @nilak.s617
      @nilak.s617 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      Finally someone who writes HeLa properly

    • @nggaknormal
      @nggaknormal 2 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      Naah, not enough nutrients and oxygen

    • @joaquinfogel7874
      @joaquinfogel7874 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Gives of similar vibes to the yoghurt episode of love death robots, but darker

    • @frankgleeson9744
      @frankgleeson9744 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      If you could control the form that they are dividing into though, to a normally operating and look... cell types, organs then whole body

    • @JetFalcon710
      @JetFalcon710 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Kinda reminds me of the Gray Goo apocalypse scenario

  • @AbrahamAnimations
    @AbrahamAnimations 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2144

    This is sorta creepy too....

    • @TheProrokpl
      @TheProrokpl 8 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      +Abraham Animations like a scypt for horror movie.

    • @loriefranceschi2590
      @loriefranceschi2590 8 ปีที่แล้ว +51

      +Anthony Ege Kopri If we survive WWIII, WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones

    • @KikomochiMendoza
      @KikomochiMendoza 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +TheProrokpl Straight outa sci-fi Horror Thriller Movie, Kinda like 28-weeks later

    • @Andy-js5jy
      @Andy-js5jy 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Abraham Animations Hela is cancer immortal because you can't beat Hela because 82 specie of Hela who surviver like space, water, oil, hot, ecc... Hela is worth of that bear water (tardigrade). not just, 82 species of Hela kill you as you can't surviver like 1 year of horror.

    • @loriefranceschi2590
      @loriefranceschi2590 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      +Andrea Gnatta ?

  • @lucahoffmann9029
    @lucahoffmann9029 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    We used HeLa cells during animal cellbiology class in university (bsc biology) by now it is kind of a standard cell line to work with. We used them for cellmigration Experiments That are meant to resemble wound healing processes. Cheers to her for advancing our knowledge by such a magnitude

  • @lenabanx6221
    @lenabanx6221 2 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    I really enjoyed the art in this video. The different viruses being represented as some abstract characters felt like a cool art project or exhibit and now I want more

    • @karlhans6678
      @karlhans6678 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You want more viruses?

    • @kapitanhatdog7092
      @kapitanhatdog7092 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@karlhans6678 I think she does and that is quite terrifying.

  • @Johnnyyoo1
    @Johnnyyoo1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +294

    Doesn't that mean that she is still there.

    • @scroogemcduckenjoyer
      @scroogemcduckenjoyer 7 ปีที่แล้ว +102

      and soon with her cell spread all over the world, global domination is at her palm!

    • @fgregerfeaxcwfeffece
      @fgregerfeaxcwfeffece 7 ปีที่แล้ว +56

      Yeah, but she is just cancer, in the most literall way.

    • @fairextl
      @fairextl 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Johnny Yoo Not really. Her brain is gone, thus is she.

    • @scroogemcduckenjoyer
      @scroogemcduckenjoyer 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      cell is alive you know, we (hypothethically) could revive her using her cells.

    • @fantasyconnect
      @fantasyconnect 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Hanif Ong She would have the mental capacity of a newborn.

  • @lordpuggles1111
    @lordpuggles1111 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2687

    When you realise Henrietta is technically still alive
    (No, i do not actually believe she is still alive)

    • @baguetteetcheese4665
      @baguetteetcheese4665 3 ปีที่แล้ว +74

      @@spiritofMongan Keep in mind its still her cells so technikly the OP is right

    • @mr.fishstick_yt9955
      @mr.fishstick_yt9955 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @@baguetteetcheese4665 well it’s her mutated cells so techinically no

    • @Dact3
      @Dact3 3 ปีที่แล้ว +88

      @@mr.fishstick_yt9955 "well it's her..." you're saying what you're trying not to

    • @mr.fishstick_yt9955
      @mr.fishstick_yt9955 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@Dact3 imagine those movies where they make like an identical twin of yourself but the personality is totally different. This is basically when Henrietta lacks cells and her cancer cells are

    • @jonnietaylor4492
      @jonnietaylor4492 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      Henrietta Lacks's cells helped make Jonathan Salk famous when he used her çells to make the polio vaccine in 1953 amazing since Henrietta Lacks only died in 1951. A very skilled lab technician came back from a break and found Mrs Lacks cells had multiplied. After they found Mrs Lacks cells multiplied it seemed at will they have been used many times for medical treatments for humans. Much money has been made from Mrs Lacks cells. How ever her family and MRS Lacks is dead. No money was received by Leak family nor did they know of the research using her cells. Or that vaccines and cloning of cells was being done. So I am wondering if Mrs Lacks family has received any money so they can live above the poverty line and benefit from the funds being made from her immortall cells. Would someone write in case there has been any changes for the Leaks family. Or if Mrs Lewis cells were used to make THE ÇOVID19 VACCINE rather interesting science. Looking forward to comments.

  • @TheRealArmor
    @TheRealArmor 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I learned about HeLa cells in my 9th grade Biology class. Kickass tbh. Feel for the lady's family. They should literally just.. be given heaps of money as compensation because of the immortal descendent that has immeasurably changed medicine.

  • @animagi6844
    @animagi6844 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    read about this some years ago. imagine a part of you outliving you then literally getting around the globe and beyond

  • @PieALaMode
    @PieALaMode 7 ปีที่แล้ว +410

    Does that mean technically she's immortal? I mean her brain is gone but these cells, part of her, keep going...

    • @NoDuurr
      @NoDuurr 7 ปีที่แล้ว +67

      Pie A La Mode yeah, technically she's still alive, just not aware of it.

    • @espen990
      @espen990 7 ปีที่แล้ว +83

      I'd say that she is only symbolically alive through the cells. It's like saying you are living in another body if you donate a kidney or blood. It's just a matter of belief I guess.

    • @NoDuurr
      @NoDuurr 7 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      Espen Sales true. it's more of a philosophical topic than a scientific one.

    • @espen990
      @espen990 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      ***** I wouldn't mind ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

    • @nchlsky
      @nchlsky 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Z.M creepy

  • @SupaL33tKillar
    @SupaL33tKillar 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2384

    Well the one thing she wasn't Lacking was clearly cancer cells.

  • @koharumi1
    @koharumi1 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Reminds me of the dog cancer.
    Able to survive in other dogs. Despite the dog being long dead thousands of years ago.

  • @Bee-ys6kt
    @Bee-ys6kt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I wish the video spent more time discussing the horrific ethical violations she endured - in her life and after - cause it feels like the story is incomplete when you try to summarize the ongoing consent issues in a sentence or two. The video touches on it, but this really doesn't do Henrietta or her family justice. She didn't even get to consent to the original biopsy cause the doctors took it without telling her.
    I REALLY recommend listening to the podcast "This Podcast Will Kill You" and their Henrietta Lacks episode, they go into detail into her life and what she endured and feels pretty respectful while still giving a more complete story.

  • @jasondeng7677
    @jasondeng7677 4 ปีที่แล้ว +521

    "why do we die of old age"
    "we would have cancer otherwise"

    • @stefanomartinelli7344
      @stefanomartinelli7344 4 ปีที่แล้ว +38

      "why do Wales, that have so many Cell to replicate, not suffer from cancer?"

    • @jasondeng7677
      @jasondeng7677 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@stefanomartinelli7344
      lol

    • @stefanomartinelli7344
      @stefanomartinelli7344 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @David Meyer
      Yes, that Is why I made the comment. It was a joke of some sort.
      Quick random question, whales have a diet Rich of fatty acids (=fat)?

    • @monke6912
      @monke6912 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@stefanomartinelli7344 maybe planktons or crabs

    • @maggiejetson7904
      @maggiejetson7904 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      This is actually the correct answer. Without the old dying before being a drain on the population there won't be enough resource to raise the healthy youth. Evolution has made a compromise.

  • @babelle2904
    @babelle2904 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1443

    did anyone else think that the measles, mumps, HIV, and Ebola Hela cells design looked cute?

    • @TheGoldenAnimations88
      @TheGoldenAnimations88 7 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      +Natsuiro
      The HIV design looks very familiar to me...

    • @wolfydawolf1296
      @wolfydawolf1296 7 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      Ali Alwaily fuck you, they were kinda cute because whoever illustrated/animated this video has a cute drawing/animation style

    • @SuperNuclearBoss
      @SuperNuclearBoss 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Natsuiro me

    • @fairextl
      @fairextl 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Natsuiro The question is why though?

    • @LuneLuan
      @LuneLuan 7 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Natsuiro I wanna holler at Ebola. She 18??

  • @Mahdi-ln5hp
    @Mahdi-ln5hp 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Live in peace, Henrietta 🙏

  • @_________5700
    @_________5700 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Our science teacher gave us this video to watch and it was interesting.

  • @boxertest
    @boxertest 8 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Her family didn't get a dime, that is the biggest shame science has . Her cells saved the world but the scientist didn't care about her family. Thank you Queen Henrietta Lacks we are eternally grateful.

  • @orlawatson6916
    @orlawatson6916 6 ปีที่แล้ว +839

    I'm currently procrastinating

    • @zacgoodwin4056
      @zacgoodwin4056 6 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      orla watson Isn't that the only reason to watch TedEd, to procrastinate while learning? 😂

    • @averyzeiler9686
      @averyzeiler9686 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      lol this is actually my studying, we have an essay to write about the ethical complications of hela cells

    • @EveryTimeV2
      @EveryTimeV2 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Inflicting pain on others is my hobby.

    • @connorgleeson9324
      @connorgleeson9324 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      orla watson ah, I see you are a man of culture as well

    • @greenjd3700
      @greenjd3700 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      #metoo

  • @JoaoVictor-dw2ci
    @JoaoVictor-dw2ci 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    It's incredibly to know that a tiny sample of a human cell can bring so much knowledge and advancements to us !!!! I'm impressed, thanks HeLa !!!

  • @-EEE-
    @-EEE- ปีที่แล้ว

    I’m still fascinated by this every now and again over the past 4 years I come back to this video to refresh

  • @TheManKelikir
    @TheManKelikir 3 ปีที่แล้ว +832

    Henrietta: "I wish for immortality.."
    Genie : "your wish is my command.."
    Henrietta: "I have an itching feeling that I forgot to mention some important details.."

    • @Adhil_parammel
      @Adhil_parammel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      Under rated command

    • @tiktok_content9505
      @tiktok_content9505 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Have fun being a clump of purple goo forever.

    • @Melonbanana
      @Melonbanana 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Itching quite literally

    • @leandrogoethals6599
      @leandrogoethals6599 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      who's genie? the red haired girl from harry potter?

    • @Melonbanana
      @Melonbanana 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@leandrogoethals6599 uhh a genie? Ever heard of Aladdin or literally any other mystical story lol

  • @phenlism
    @phenlism 7 ปีที่แล้ว +56

    When I was interning at NIH, an amazing group of scholars gave myself and a group of other students the book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks". I have markings and bookmarks all over this book just to make note of my favorite and most inspiring parts and even wrote a paper on it in university. I highly recommend this book to anyone! It doesn't matter your education level. It's just the most interesting book I've ever had. You will come to know and love the Lacks family and understand their side.

    • @adeash02
      @adeash02 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yes!!! I got my copy at the NIH I’m in the middle of reading it now. I have diff emotions reading it shocked, amazed and sad.

  • @ilikefud7741
    @ilikefud7741 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Many may not believe this, but I am apart of the lacks family line, my name is Christian Nazario and my mother's maiden name is Dionna Lacks and I believe Henrietta Lacks would be my great aunt if I'm not mistaken, I found out about Henrietta Lacks when I was about 14 when my mother brought it up after I asked why we never get sick, and I looked into her myself later on and discovered a lot of things about myself and my great aunt. I actually do have HeLa cells in my body too and it's so strange how they work for me, anytime I get a specific illness surprisingly enough I never get it again or at least not for a very very long time. This is how I know have her cells and I'm glad I'm apart of something that has made this world progress in so many ways, but it is sad to say our family has never and probably will never get compensation for it 😔 that's just how the world works right now especially during a time where racism was very prominent.

    • @anpanbbang9469
      @anpanbbang9469 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ''anytime I get a specific illness surprisingly enough I never get it again or at least not for a very very long time'' its called having an immune response system and white blood cells, you arent special

  • @stevemc01
    @stevemc01 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    There was a lot of controversy over these because Henrietta’s family never got any credit for the unintentional contribution she gave medical science (partially because they were called “Helen Lane” cells).

  • @StevenTorrey
    @StevenTorrey 8 ปีที่แล้ว +257

    The book about Henrietta Lacks --- THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot--made for fascinating reading.

    • @StevenTorrey
      @StevenTorrey 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      +Steven Torrey In the days of Henrietta Lacks, cells were named by the first two letters of the first and last name of the patient--hence, HeLa cells. John Moore complained about cells derived from his spleen being called Mo. He thought this was dehumanizing. So now cells are given numbers instead of names. Yet, Henrietta Lacks herself achieves recognition and immortality by having the cells named directly after her--Henrietta Lacks--HeLa.

    • @StevenTorrey
      @StevenTorrey 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Steven Torrey Also in the days of Henrietta Lacks (she died in 1951) the ethics re the taking of cells, the taking and disposal of body parts, and financial remuneration for any pharmaceutical cures from any medical research with the cell was far hazier than it is today. To say the family was denied 'financial recompense' as a result of pharmaceuticals derived from her cells suggests a level of intentional sinister that is just not there. Not even in a sense of 'oversight.' The safeguards in place today were simply not present in those days. And even today, once that biopsy leaves the body, once the limb leaves the body, the patient cannot claim it for his own; and there are a lot of health reasons for that. Like what is a person going to do with an 'appendix? Where does the patient keep it? And lots of other practical health considerations re diseased body parts. (Rebecca Skloot discussed this in her book, THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS. And the Court has consistently sided with the medical profession regarding ownership of disposed body parts.)

    • @soldadoblanco10
      @soldadoblanco10 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Henrietta Lacks death seems mysterious. Think about it business wise, after making a discovery of her cells why need her, but her cells; therefore, she can't claim profits of her unique cells, she dies of cervical cancer is what they say. In my point of view, Lacks was deprived of life in exchange for financial wealth. It's just the new world, that's how corporations and private firms earn their wealth, off the back of others.

    • @Smithworks2
      @Smithworks2 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Steven Torrey so you are okay with the continual "co-opting" of the African American body for furthering of science and future endeavors to heal etc. I did not read the book (I plan to) but even I know that the Eurocentric mind WOULD see that there is nothing wrong with profiting off "black bodies" because it is disposable. Shame on you for your "lack" of sensitivity and your cavalier attitude toward savage thievery. The LEAST the scientists could have done (if not share profits) was let the woman know what they were doing.
      You probobly think it was okay to use those Tuskeegee men to do syphilis experiments on cause they WERE considered 3/5ths human. Get outta here! People talk trash when its about "them folks" or "other", would you be so understanding and cavalier if it were YOUR family's DNA used to pioneer present modern day medicines, and your family didn't even get the respect of a scientists disclosure agreement! #FOHWTBS

    • @Harm10412
      @Harm10412 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Cristian Mercado Sorry, but that is conspiracy nonsense. She had cancer in the early 1950s and received the treatment that was standard at the time. Unfortunately, that couldn't prevent the cancer from metastasizing and she died within less than a year. I doubt researchers had figured out the value of the cells by then: they were initially donated to other labs and the discoveries mentioned in the video were made years or decades later.
      Also, keep in mind that these were different times in terms of patient consent and on top of that she was African-American in a time before the civil rights era.

  • @mushroom262
    @mushroom262 3 ปีที่แล้ว +233

    Moment of appreciation to the artist who drew all the art for this video

  • @kolis_
    @kolis_ 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The animation, and this was just amazing and such a good explanation of just how powerful her cells were

  • @stephaniegarza133
    @stephaniegarza133 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you so much for healing so many people.

  • @gregboucaard6181
    @gregboucaard6181 7 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    Thank you, henrietta!

  • @Feynstein100
    @Feynstein100 8 ปีที่แล้ว +66

    "We still don't know why HeLa cells are immortal" Umm I think we kinda do. Telomerase allows a cell to bypass the Hayflick limit of 50 divisions by lengthening the telomeres during mitosis.

    • @narmerland
      @narmerland 8 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      +Feynstein100 how would you explain this to a 6 year old?

    • @h7opolo
      @h7opolo 8 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      +KinGSeth A cell can be thought of as a person. Telomerase is a protein that controls the telomeres, like a medicine. Your "person," aka cell, has a heart of DNA. The person clones his/herself, and each time, his/her heart unravels a little, like a piece of individually wrapped hard candy. The "person" can multiply his/herself 50 times before his/her candy heart is unwrapped and eaten by his/her clones. However, if the "person" eats enough medicinal Telmorase, the candy heart doesn't unravel and the "person" gets to keep living with all his/her clone friends.
      That is cancer in a six-year explanation.
      I hope that helps.

    • @lesROKnoobz
      @lesROKnoobz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      +h7opolo nice explanation A+

    • @xoreign
      @xoreign 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Telemeres aren't the only problem. there's also an ionic buildup around the DNA over time which also prevents immortality in normal cases.

    • @Feynstein100
      @Feynstein100 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Xoreign Hmm. You have my attention. Do tell.

  • @akashchakraborty9779
    @akashchakraborty9779 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    You are probably one of the most useful and superb channels out there.

  • @Eightbyte
    @Eightbyte 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    her decendants had no knowledge of this till around 2011, I'd reccomend reading "the immortal life of Henrietta Lacks" her story is relatively sad but her life and death has undoubtedly saved hundreds and changed the world. You can literally buy hela cells on the internet and yet her family stayed poor and still never got a cent from it. Back in the day when they first discovered it they tested what injection does (injection caused cancer at the injection site), you can just by cancer on the internet with enough money if you really wanted to and I think thats very scary...

    • @memestealer8857
      @memestealer8857 ปีที่แล้ว

      This is literally incorrect

    • @memestealer8857
      @memestealer8857 ปีที่แล้ว

      They had known about it for several years prior to Skloot showing up

  • @sneal8526
    @sneal8526 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1668

    you could say.....
    Henrietta lacks mortal cells
    im not sorry

  • @KyleNappTheMaster
    @KyleNappTheMaster 7 ปีที่แล้ว +126

    so how did the transaction of the cells go
    "Hey you want some cancer cells?"
    "why would I want that?"
    "Don't worry, they're immortal"
    "OKAY LETS HAVE 'EM"

    • @kayleigh3200
      @kayleigh3200 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      No the doctors took her cells without her even knowing it. It's like when they ask for maybe a blood test or something. But they took some of her tissue without her consent. And it's a shame her family got not even a penny out of it even though HeLa cells cured so many diseases and helped so many people and just mankind in general.

    • @justathought973
      @justathought973 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @*xai*
      So, they were still her cells. Cancer is still your cells, cells that won't turn off but they're still your cells.

    • @CharlesAngelus
      @CharlesAngelus 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@justathought973 ...Don't people seek treatment specifically to have their tumors removed?

  • @grogmakefire3313
    @grogmakefire3313 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The animation in this is so good!

  • @jakkuwolfinsomnia8058
    @jakkuwolfinsomnia8058 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    How poetic, Henrieta may have died but her cells live on forever

  • @motorcycleman115
    @motorcycleman115 7 ปีที่แล้ว +89

    Henrietta lacks probably could have provided a fortunes worth of scientific discoveries if her case was handled correctly.

    • @imortalones
      @imortalones 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      true that. Thats really what should be learned here xd

    • @jaredmorse6539
      @jaredmorse6539 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Which it was! Good job, humanity, you actually did one damn thing right for once.

    • @gogolouie7768
      @gogolouie7768 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Don't you think her permission should g
      have been given?

    • @Cardandcointricks
      @Cardandcointricks 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Gogo Louie Yes of course it should have been obtained. However at the time, it was common not to obtain consent from patients for any research. It want until nearly a decade later when the NIH decided to begin using Ethics committees for granting research funding. This came off the back of research they conducted showing that very few of the labs they funded, had bothered to gain consent.

    • @foubrac7173
      @foubrac7173 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It was handled correctly except for the fact that they didn’t tell her family or her that they took her cells.

  • @EugeneKhutoryansky
    @EugeneKhutoryansky 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1429

    Interesting information.

    • @Berteotti
      @Berteotti 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Ang badang I have the same feeling ahahahah

    • @DekuStickGamer
      @DekuStickGamer 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Ang badang he's advertising that's why on all the popular vids

    • @io543
      @io543 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Physics Videos by Eugene Khutoryansky I'm up-voting so people can check you out.

    • @mackoncars7579
      @mackoncars7579 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Physics Videos by Eugene Khutoryansky
      No offense to the scientists (well maybe a little)but this is stupid! If HeLa cells are unusual in the sense they will reproduce indefinitely and can survive on their own, why test them to substitute for results from normal cells, sure it's easy, but it CHANGES THE RESULTS! I mean there have to be other changes that are indistinguishable but we won't find any because all of the test cells are HeLa cells. Am I missing something?

    • @kkirschkk
      @kkirschkk 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      besucse there close enough to normal cells that if it works on these then it might work on normal cells, and they do test on normal cells as well

  • @flawlessmind3017
    @flawlessmind3017 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    may god bless her soul.
    Rest in peace Henrieta!

  • @Bruh-jr9vi
    @Bruh-jr9vi 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I see people talk about the animation/art in other Ted Ed videos but no one seems to be talking about it in this video, so just to say, the animation is amazing!

  • @Valorhammer
    @Valorhammer 7 ปีที่แล้ว +410

    So Hela is technically the first legit (X-men levels) mutant?

    • @darkgxk
      @darkgxk 7 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      sounds about right yea

    • @dango-san9166
      @dango-san9166 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      No more like, the reason why a lot of people is still alive today.

    • @federubio2519
      @federubio2519 6 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      No, but the tumor that killed her is

    • @mrwho6276
      @mrwho6276 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Fedestroyer Rubio dead you mean

    • @michelledutton6333
      @michelledutton6333 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      i think

  • @capybarafilmstudios1620
    @capybarafilmstudios1620 2 ปีที่แล้ว +501

    me: eating grape jelly
    the other scientists realizing there's missing HeLa samples:

    • @burntpasta3240
      @burntpasta3240 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      You’re a scientist?

    • @cactiman6593
      @cactiman6593 2 ปีที่แล้ว +35

      @@burntpasta3240 it was a joke

    • @cyrusmann5443
      @cyrusmann5443 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      UH OH

    • @winzyl9546
      @winzyl9546 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Again

    • @MammalianCreature
      @MammalianCreature 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@cactiman6593 So was their comment, a set up for another joke too. Too bad nobody played along with it.

  • @Ali.kazem77
    @Ali.kazem77 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is one of my favourite Ted-Ed videos now❤️

  • @DJ_Force
    @DJ_Force ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I can't get past her five children who's mother was taken from them when they needed a mother the most, and a single father in the 50s trying to keep his family together 😥

  • @misscleo378
    @misscleo378 5 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Thank you Mrs. Henrietta Lacks. We are forever grateful to you and your unique contribution to science and medical research.

  • @ruthhh.m
    @ruthhh.m 5 ปีที่แล้ว +114

    If you guys liked this video, I would recommend reading the book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks". I chose to read it for a prior AP Lang class and I loved it! The aquiration of the HeLa cell was a lot more shady than this video reveals. The book has interviews with her family and reveals their resulting hardships as well as the struggle of minorities to receive help within the medical field in Henrietta's time.

    • @riteshluitel1705
      @riteshluitel1705 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      yes, I did read the boook. So strange that this video was recommended to me

    • @karisheldon4483
      @karisheldon4483 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      i read that book to. i heard about HELA before the book but now i know so much more about it. HELA helped with a lot of things but its sad that they took her cells without asking or telling her family.

    • @leonardodtc1493
      @leonardodtc1493 ปีที่แล้ว

      I hated the book, totally disturbing

    • @uyagraph
      @uyagraph ปีที่แล้ว

      @@leonardodtc1493 how

    • @carolynmitchell2878
      @carolynmitchell2878 ปีที่แล้ว

      I’m reading it now

  • @rustfun2159
    @rustfun2159 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    People are going to start using this stuff like Hashirama cells

  • @moyai9001
    @moyai9001 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for teaching this to me Ted

  • @Child_of_Amun
    @Child_of_Amun 7 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    And now she has a school named after her, and she's in the hall of fame. I hope this honors our ancestor, so she may rest in peace.

  • @hub3530
    @hub3530 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2066

    Queen Elizabeth: finally a worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary!

    • @ethanlynch9471
      @ethanlynch9471 2 ปีที่แล้ว +69

      It's a shame the human race will have died out before their battle ends

    • @issacpearson4749
      @issacpearson4749 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I think she gets organ transplants

    • @maybe_ronin.
      @maybe_ronin. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Mirtha Legrand: Heh... amateurs...

    • @imnotconsistent4504
      @imnotconsistent4504 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Now I’m just imagining the queen with a sword and traditional armour taking stance

    • @epicjay8615
      @epicjay8615 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@imnotconsistent4504 great. Now I have that image in my head, thank you.

  • @aspirant_IIT-KGP
    @aspirant_IIT-KGP 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Why is nobody talking about the animation!!...ngl it's soo cool

  • @Uniquenailsbybrie
    @Uniquenailsbybrie 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Congratulations to Henrietta Lack's family in finally getting compensation for these world changing immortal cells

  • @Willpower360
    @Willpower360 7 ปีที่แล้ว +580

    So we got the benefit of living from a person that is dying (died) from cancer.

    • @Vk-jw2hl
      @Vk-jw2hl 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      William Xu pretty much

    • @rich763690
      @rich763690 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      William Xu
      AN EXTREMELY DURABLE CERVICAL CANCER........TO ACCURATE........

    • @pukamaroo
      @pukamaroo 7 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      William Xu Yeah.. Tbh though it's better than hearing about lab rat tests

    • @Shadow77999
      @Shadow77999 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      isnt that cool? 😆

    • @JamesSmith-pi6hi
      @JamesSmith-pi6hi 7 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Ok well she was going to die from her late stage cervical cancer, so she might as well help humanity.

  • @JacobMoss
    @JacobMoss 7 ปีที่แล้ว +801

    Deadpool has HeLa cells.

  • @peachyrays9018
    @peachyrays9018 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    My teacher was kind enough to spread her story. Henrietta Lacks is amazing honestly.

  • @bluegaplanim
    @bluegaplanim 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

    lets take a moment to appreciate the art style tho, its amazing.

  • @leonardohelveciodeoliveira5233
    @leonardohelveciodeoliveira5233 5 ปีที่แล้ว +271

    Normal cell:lvl 1 crook
    HeLa: lvl 100 mafia boss

  • @NerdSyncProductions
    @NerdSyncProductions 8 ปีที่แล้ว +120

    Hurray for HeLa cells!

    • @eliebaaklini5756
      @eliebaaklini5756 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +NerdSync We meet again awesome channel

    • @cinnamon7268
      @cinnamon7268 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Not to hate but NerdSync just basically said Yay cancer!(if you don't believe me listen to the video closer)

  • @glowingunknown5625
    @glowingunknown5625 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    2:28 ... and that's the start of a sci-fi horror movie.

  • @nandinijalan1405
    @nandinijalan1405 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    All thanks to her!

  • @rtee4227
    @rtee4227 7 ปีที่แล้ว +552

    why do people dislike science videos? lol. they're not hurting anybody!

    • @rw2227
      @rw2227 7 ปีที่แล้ว +95

      R Tee Yeah but religious people get offended

    • @DoubIoons
      @DoubIoons 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      about what?

    • @jacob9602
      @jacob9602 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      R Tee 122 people don't like black peoples

    • @iglusmulmus2654
      @iglusmulmus2654 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      jake2003 and black people don't like white people

    • @develpala
      @develpala 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Monkey D Luffy, are YOU not forgetting that it is some people who do not accept science as an explaination over their beliefs, and not the overall religion? (which no individual can reprecent)

  • @boy638
    @boy638 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2117

    Henrietta Lacks was the Only person on the world to have this cell?

    • @RKNGL
      @RKNGL 8 ปีที่แล้ว +530

      The cells were extracted at a very late stage of cancer,
      it is unlikely that she was the only patient to have the cells.
      Though she is the first to have those cells studied.

    • @Rabijeel
      @Rabijeel 8 ปีที่แล้ว +150

      +boy638 Unlikeley. But, she was the first one, where this cells were recorded and could be extracted.
      So, if you have what you need, why spend further energy in the search for similar things as you know, you will find it?
      The cells are "immortal", so they will not cease to exist. She just had a very basic form of cancer, comparable to everyone having Lemonade or Icetea while you having distilled Water as drink.
      Indeed, the immortality is the problem in our genetic construction plan - we need to be mortal, or we would die by cancer before even reach the 6th Birthday. Mortality is the motor of our evolution, allowing us to adapt and survive - we can even alter our attributes to adapt to our enviroment within 20 Years by just living in that enviroment - if we were immortal, we need to reproduce for that and even then it woiuld be unlikeley that some mutation takes root, as the Genes were stable - so, adaption would take about (estimated) 120-1200 Years, as genetic adaption only happens by reproduction.
      It were not her normal cells, it was the mutation of it, the cancer, who bears the possibility of immortality - as every cancer can do at a small possibility.

    • @Dantick09
      @Dantick09 8 ปีที่แล้ว +49

      +boy638 She was a mutant

    • @kimikotekuno2108
      @kimikotekuno2108 8 ปีที่แล้ว +70

      +Dantick09 If she were a mutant, it would have been from the sex cells in one of her parents. She was no more a mutant than any other cancer victim. The mutation happened only in her cancer cells. And because on that cancer, many lives were save and in a way, she is still alive today.

    • @Rabijeel
      @Rabijeel 8 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Kimiko Tekuno Depends. Basically, you are true, but on the other hand, we are all mutants, having inactive potential for some mutaton - this is why some people have keen sight and others need glasses. And both of them could be the "mutant".
      People which are getting very old while doing unhealthy stuff have mostly some genetic advantage like a better resistance against toxics or very strong DNA very resistant against damage.
      So, if Danticks thought, even if just a joke, can be true or not - and that can be solved by taking a closer look at this circumstances in her family tree - either there is some predisposition towards getting old or there is a predisposition towards the opposite, die young but having a astonishingly rate of healing while alive. This mostly is a rezessive Gene, so we need to take a look at her grandmother and cousins and nephews.
      Indeed, the question about the Nature of this Mutation was one of my first thoughts I was very interested in as I saw this.

  • @GladdyX
    @GladdyX 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Is there a sequel to this video? Well it’s been 5 years so I expect to see progress

  • @laniciajewelthompson2357
    @laniciajewelthompson2357 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is an amazing true story