Human Cell Immortality
 

I learned about this on The Colbert Report the other night and found it absolutely fascinating.

In 1951 Henrietta Lacks was treated for cervical cancer. Without her knowledge or permission, some of the tumor cells were harvested for study (a common practice then.) It turned out those cells had an amazing property: they were immortal! Unlike most human cells which die after a few divisions, Henrietta's cells (called HeLa cells) did not. In fact they're still alive today and have been reproduced to the tune of over 50 metric tons. (That's weight, not quantity of cells.) HeLa cells have been used for scientific research in the cure for polio, AIDS, and numerous other pursuits all over the world.

Rebecca Skloot did an hour on Fresh Air a few weeks back if you're interested in a more in depth conversation.

What I found interesting was that her cells are so robust that researchers can't seem to keep them out of their other cell lines and she's constantly screwing up research in that way.

This is fascinating - I want to look into this more

Do so. Can look into this as well?

Let me see...

I'll go first. Focus ... focus ... OK, I seem to be getting something here.



Oh, it's Snoopy!

I think THAT is what you'd see.

Oh you do do you? But is it what I saw? No. I saw Snoopy.

Yet, in the spirit of fairness, I shall take another look.

Hmm, let me see. What is it that I see ... Focus ... focus ...



Oh, hey! It's New York Yankee and Hall of Famer, Yogi the Bear!