Click Here to listen to Genetic Justice for Henrietta Lacks - Interview with Ben Crump along with notes, transcript, pictures and videos. Living Legend Ben Crump takes a break from the Southern University Law Center Inaugural Henrietta Lacks Symposium to discuss the civil case on behalf of the Lacks family to rectify the inhumane immoral criminal act committed in 1951. In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer and received treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. During her "inhumane" treatment, her cells were taken without her knowledge or consent for medical research purposes. These cells, known as the HeLa cell line, were the first immortalized human cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research. An immortalized cell line reproduces indefinitely, and were found to be unique in their ability to reproduce quickly and survive outside of the human body. The HeLa cells became instrumental in developing vaccines, cancer treatments, and other medical advancements. However, Henrietta Lacks and her family were unaware of the use of her cells for decades, and they did not receive any compensation or recognition for their contribution to medical research.

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