The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
What books should everyone read before they die?Add Book
Not Available
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot
Science & Nature
James Mustich
Jul 31, 2018
At a fundamental level, Henrietta Lacks’s contribution to the advance of medical science may be as great as that of anyone who has ever lived. Her cells, obtained without her permission or knowledge during treatment for terminal cancer in 1951, were the first human cells to be replicated and kept alive under controlled conditions in a laboratory. The cell line her tissue culture spawned enabled numerous breakthroughs, including the development of the polio vaccine, cloning techniques, chemotherapy drugs, AIDS medications, in vitro fertilization, and gene mapping, as well as tests for sensitivities to many medicines and products. Told with a narrative fluency equal to the technical and emotional challenges of her subject—including profound ethical questions of patient consent and family privacy— Skloot’s book is animated by voices that reveal, again and again, the shifting perspectives that make the story of Henrietta Lacks so compelling.
0
Add Reply
Leslie Maxwell
Jan 3, 2020
Yes
0
Add Reply
Jessica
Dec 12, 2024
love
0
Add Reply
Agree (40)
Life's too short (8)
Want to read
Post Comment
"1,000 Books To Read Before You Die" is a registered trademark of Workman Publishing, Inc. Based on the book: 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich, (Workman Publishing Co., Inc.: © 2018 James Mustich)
All other website content © 2018-2025 The Company of Books LLC.