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=__**HeLa Cells**__=



Henrietta Lacks’ ‘Immortal’ Cells
These HeLa cells were stained with special dyes that highlight specific parts of each cell. The DNA in the nucleus is yellow, the actin filaments are light blue and the mitochondria—the cell's power generators—are pink.

**__The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks__**
Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions.

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

__**Assignments**__

 * Read the BOOK
 * Create your own page entitled "Reading Log Page" (update your answers as you progress through the book)
 * Create your own page entitled "Exploration" ( answer the questions under Exploration)
 * Create your own page entitled "Thoughts" or any other Interesting Name as long as its appropriate!
 * Create a final project ( See Final Project Page)

**__Evaluation__**

 * Grade will be based on participation ( students will be expected to participate in all assignments and provide responses to other student's "Thoughts Page" a minimum of 5 responses is required) (25%)
 * Grade will be based on completion of "Reading Log" and "Exploration Page" (see each page for expectations) (25%)
 * Grade will be based on completion of Final Project (see page for expectations) (50%)