Bessmertnaia zhizn' Genrietty Laks

Henrietta Lacks was a poor Southern tobacco farmer whose cells, taken without her knowledge, became an invaluable tool in medicine. Known to scientists as HeLa, these 'immortal' cells were crucial for developing the polio vaccine, uncovering secrets of cancer, and advancing in vitro fertilization and gene mapping. This book tells the story of Henrietta's family, who only learned of her scientific legacy decades after her death, and explores the dark history of medical experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the ongoing legal battles over bodily autonomy.