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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: MP-Ryan on March 01, 2012, 04:51:44 pm

Title: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: MP-Ryan on March 01, 2012, 04:51:44 pm
...because I hadn't.  A story about ethics in biological sciences:

http://www.scienceinseconds.com/blog/Sciences-Immortal-Beloved
Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: Ghostavo on March 01, 2012, 05:26:14 pm
You lost a bet.

Thanks (http://www.cracked.com/article_19041_7-useful-genetic-experiments-that-are-creepy-as-hell_p2.html) Cracked.com (http://www.cracked.com/article_18519_6-people-youve-never-heard-who-probably-saved-your-life_p2.html)!
Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: NGTM-1R on March 01, 2012, 05:57:42 pm
MP-Ryan, don't reveal your mortality.
Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: Mongoose on March 01, 2012, 09:40:51 pm
I think I'd vaguely heard about her in the past, but that doesn't make the story any less fascinating.
Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: Beskargam on March 01, 2012, 09:59:34 pm
Heard about it before, either covered it in class or was in Michael Crichton's "Next". Cant remember which. . .
Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: Cyborg17 on March 01, 2012, 10:52:13 pm
We're reading the book about this story in my Social Science class this semester.  It's probably the best non-fiction book that I've read, and it teaches you a lot from science and biology to social dynamics, attitudes, and prejudices.  I highly recommend it.
Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: MP-Ryan on March 01, 2012, 10:56:00 pm
I'm pleasantly surprised at the number of people who do know the background.  Good stuff!  I'm a little stunned it never came up in any of the genetics courses I took, but then again everyone knows geneticists are unethical evil geniuses that make glow in the dark fish and hypoallergenic cats anyway :P
Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: Enzo03 on March 02, 2012, 09:41:05 am
Had to read the book mentioned in the article.

Had to, but didn't.  I roughly know the story though.

Didn't read the entire article though.  Was a bit busy (still am).
Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: Janos on March 06, 2012, 08:31:15 am
Henrietta's cells form probably the largest genetic human in the world. Her mass is... I don't know, at least on the scale of tens of tons, probably much more (but probably less than tens of millions of tons), and she is one of the worst in vitro contaminants of cell cultures.

Btw I knew of this before because lol, i am a biologist.

Title: Re: Heard of the HeLa cell line? I bet you haven't heard this story
Post by: watsisname on March 10, 2012, 12:13:15 am
Somehow this reminds me of Akira.

At least it isn't sentient and have telekinetic powers.

Yet...

:shaking: