Image of the Month: The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks

Published in Fundamentals - Fundamentals October 2019

What makes Henrietta Lacks’ cells so immortal? Scientists suspect it has something to do with the human papillomavirus that caused her cancer. The specific genetic mutations inserted into her DNA made them practically unstoppable. They can float on dust particles in the air and outgrow any cell other they encounter. Henrietta’s cells helped to shape modern medicine as we know it.

Image Credit: Crystal Williams & Joshua Franzos