Who was Henrietta Lacks?

She was a poor black tobacco farmer in the 1950s—who’s cells were taken without her knowledge—and became of one the most important tools in the medicine business, her cells were able to develop the polio vaccine, gene mapping and cloning. Scientists call her HeLa (short for Henrietta Lacks). Johns Hopkins Hospital was responsible for taking Henrietta’s cells without her consent and owing her family money for what they did.

A poor tobacco farmer in the 1950s whose cells have helped develop the polio vaccine and other medical uses.