Radiolab Extra: Henrietta Lacks (April 19, 2017)

Overview

In this special Radiolab extra, hosts Jad Abumrad and Rebecca Skloot revisit the story of Henrietta Lacks, the Black woman whose cancer cells became the first immortal cell line, known as HeLa, revolutionizing medicine and launching the era of biotechnology. In honor of the HBO debut of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," based on Skloot’s bestselling book, Radiolab explores both the remarkable science and the human cost behind this transformational medical legacy, weaving personal stories, interviews, and historical analysis.

The episode traces the origins of HeLa cells, their unprecedented scientific impact, the long period of anonymity endured by the Lacks family, and their emotional journey in understanding what happened to their mother’s cells—and what it means for privacy, consent, and legacy in the age of genomics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery of the Tumor and Henrietta’s Diagnosis

• Henrietta Lacks discovers a lump:
  Henrietta, a Black woman in 1950s Baltimore, finds a "knot" in her womb (04:03).
• Examination by Dr. Howard Jones at Johns Hopkins:
  The tumor is described as "deep purple...as big as a quarter, sort of shiny, very soft," "like red jello" (05:06, Dr. Howard Jones).

2. Birth of HeLa Cells

• The Search for Immortality in Cells:
  For decades, scientists had tried unsuccessfully to grow human cells outside the body for research (06:00).
• Mary Kubichak’s role:
  Lab assistant Mary Kubichak recounts how nothing was expected of yet another sample—until it started growing:

  "They just kept plugging along." (08:02, Mary Kubichak)

• Unprecedented Immortality:
  Unlike all previous samples, these cells doubled every 24 hours and survived indefinitely.

3. Death of Henrietta Lacks, Survival of Her Cells

• Despite Henrietta’s death soon after, her cells ("HeLa") continued to grow and proliferate in laboratories across the world (08:26).

4. HeLa Cells’ Impact on Science

• Distribution and Sharing:
  Dr. George Gey, who established the HeLa line, gave the cells freely to scientists globally (11:28, Mary Kubichak).
• Polio Vaccine Development:
  HeLa cells enabled mass production of the polio virus for vaccine testing, becoming central in the fight against polio (12:09).
• HeLa as Research Workhorse:
  Used to study various diseases, test drugs, develop vaccines, and even sent into space to study zero gravity’s effects on human cells (14:18, Rebecca Skloot).

• "Nothing can stop it. Why hers just sort of took off and grew, and the other ones that they had tried before didn't is just a little bit of a mystery." (09:33, Rebecca Skloot)

5. Contamination and the "Personalization" of HeLa

• HeLa as a Laboratory Contaminant:
  HeLa’s aggressiveness led to contamination of other cell lines, often overtaking them (15:16).
• Realization of Henrietta’s Identity:
  The need to genetically identify HeLa led journalists and scientists to finally ask: Who was the source? This revealed Henrietta’s name after 25 years of anonymity (15:57).

6. Family Impact & Ethics of Consent

• Deborah Lacks’ Quest:
  Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah, articulates her longing for knowledge about her mother and her confusion about the meaning of her existence in cells (16:54).

  "I was only 15 months old and I don't remember anything about my mother." (16:54, Deborah Lacks)

• Emotional Toll and Misunderstanding:
  The Lacks family struggled with the concept of their mother "being alive" in labs, sometimes fearing literal clones existed (18:35).

  "How much of ourselves is out there, you know?" (17:51, Deborah Lacks)

• Lack of Communication:
  Scientists never explained to the family what had happened, fueling decades of confusion and pain (22:45).

7. A Personal Reckoning

• Deborah’s Overwhelming Burden:
  Rebecca Skloot recounts an intense moment when Deborah breaks down under the strain, comforted by faith and family (23:22–25:03).

  "She can't carry the burden of these cells anymore. She can't do it." (23:32, Jad Abumrad paraphrasing Deborah)

• Meeting the Cells:
  Emotional scene as Deborah sees her mother’s cells for the first time, holds a vial, and whispers:

  "You're famous. But nobody knows." (26:24, Deborah Lacks)

8. Legacy and the Rise of Bioethics

• Post-publication Developments:
  Following Skloot’s book and expanding recognition, the Lacks family is honored, and their story inspires widespread reflection on medical ethics (28:00).
• Genomic Privacy Crisis (2013):
  German scientists publish HeLa genome without consent, raising new questions about genetic privacy for Henrietta’s descendants (29:04).

• "Within the HeLa genome, there was also Henrietta's genome. And some of that was...potential privacy violation." (29:12, Rebecca Skloot)

9. A New Deal: Family Inclusion

• NIH Negotiation:
  After Skloot’s advocacy, the NIH works with the Lacks family to restrict access to HeLa genomic data, requiring their involvement in decision-making—a first for biomedical research (32:18–33:29).

  "There would be a committee formed that was a group of scientists and then...some members of the Lacks family, the Hela Genome committee." (33:24, Jerry Lacks)

• The Torch is Passed:
  A new generation of Lacks family members becomes stewards of their ancestor’s legacy and consent in science (33:45).

• "This is their story now." (34:08, Rebecca Skloot)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the initial biopsy and the uncanny appearance:

  "On examination, slightly raised when you touched it. You might think it was red jello."
  — Dr. Howard Jones (05:06)

• On science and personhood:

  "How much of ourselves is out there, you know?"
  — Deborah Lacks (17:51)

• On science as an act of faith and healing:

  "There are some things that doctors cannot do. And we come to you tonight..."
  — Deborah’s cousin Gary, leading prayer (24:15)

• When Deborah meets her mother’s cells:

  "You're famous. But nobody knows."
  — Deborah Lacks (26:24)

• On genomic privacy:

  "Within the HeLa genome, there was also Henrietta's genome. And...potential privacy violation."
  — Rebecca Skloot (29:12)

Important Timestamps

• Diagnosis and biopsy: 04:03 – 06:00
• First growth of HeLa cells: 07:44 – 08:11
• Distribution for polio vaccine: 12:09 – 13:30
• Contamination of cell lines: 15:16 – 15:57
• Discovery of Henrietta’s name: 15:57
• Deborah Lacks' story and grief: 16:54 – 22:19
• Emotional prayer breakdown: 23:22 – 25:03
• Deborah sees her mother’s cells: 25:25 – 26:24
• Henrietta's legacy after the book: 27:55 – 28:43
• German release of genome: 29:04 – 30:41
• NIH/family negotiations: 31:19 – 33:29
• Passing the torch to a new generation: 33:45 – end

Conclusion

Radiolab’s in-depth revisiting of Henrietta Lacks’ story masterfully highlights the intersection of scientific discovery and human consequence, raising crucial questions about consent, legacy, and the ethics of genetic research. It captures the enormous reach of HeLa cells—saving lives, propelling science, but also sparking a reckoning with privacy, race, recognition, and respect for those whose bodies have shaped our collective future.

For further information and resources, visit Radiolab.org.