Sorry for posting so late!!! I will extend the post until Thursday. What has grabbed your attention thus far? How does what is happening in the chapters related to what we are studying now? I see many implications HeLa cells had on the discoveries we are learning about now. What are your thoughts?
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Can't wait to read your thoughts!!!
What has grabbed my attention is that in these chapters, the Lacks family are just now finding out about their mothers cells being researched. They have been bombarded by newspaper editors and others. I find it intriguing, and possibly ironic, all the medical issues the Lacks family have suffered from, especially Deborah. She has arthritis, osteoporosis, nerve deafness, anxiety, and depression, along with high blood pressure and diabetes. Also the fact that Henrietta was misdiagnosed was interesting along with Henrietta's syphilis possibly playing a role in the spread of her cancer. Also, I think the drawing of blood without consent was interesting, especially since they are so heavily used and so heavily relied on today. Apparently, they were not necessary when taking the families blood samples, since the family did agree to give their blood, although they though it was a cancer test, not a test for genetic marker G6PD-A, used to see if their cells were similar to HeLa cells.
ReplyDeleteThings like the genetic markers McKusick and Hsu were searching for could tie into what we are learning in class with the proteins and DNA transfer. Enzymes, another thing talked about in class, were mentioned in these chapters. These chapters were probably the best chapters to connect to what we are learning in the classroom.
I agree with you, Will. I liked the fact that these chapters began really tying into our classroom assignments and information we are currently going over. I also found that Deborah's medical problems very ironic. You'd think, that by her mother's cells, and all that they have supposedly done for the medical field, that she and the rest of her family would have been given the opportunity for better healthcare and better means of living, regarding their health.
DeleteThe book, intriguing and potently science- filled as ever,evoked - in these few chapters- the controversial remedies the HeLa cells brought to scientists as well as the Lacks family. My attention was grabbed when Gartler stated that the HeLa cells may have been contaminated and that it was not 'immortal' but just 'growing and regrowing'. I must say I was a bit satisfied when I read this, considering I speculated a contamination as well. It's theory led to the Lacks family in which a genetic procedure would have to be done.
ReplyDeleteIt is understandable to feel the wrath yet apprehension of the Lacks' as African Americans, dated back to the 1800's, were abducted from 'night doctors' for medical/science research. The abduction of slaves or African Americans in general, caused fear to many and thus led the Lacks family to believe that Henrietta had been somewhat stolen for research; an object for all white intellectuals to experiment on.
I also found a plethora of other things interesting as well!
-Superstition seemed to play a grand part in the Lacks family's beliefs. Whenever authors hunted for information of the life story of Henrietta, an omen occurs. Many of the family members assume it to be Henrietta sending a sign to prevent authors from receiving private information.
- The ironic acquaintance and conversation between Bobbette and Gardenia's brother in law. It is a bittersweet scene, that introduces how the Lacks family learnt of what laid behind their deceased mother's body.
- The lack of knowledge of the Lacks family. Yes, in those times many African Americans were not educated, however it is a mere observation that if any of them had asked in depth of the simple 'drawing of blood' by Hsu, they could have possibly (maybe) be given the truth and what really laid behind the blood tests.
- The (probable) ingenuity of Hopkins and Gey. The two were not money hungry scientists, just mere scientists attempting to crack a code that may prove something awesome in the science world.
- Skloot's determination is certainly admirable. She had traveled an insurmountable amount of times to and fro Baltimore, eager as ever for information about the Lacks family. Skloot had been stood up, banned, and unwelcome into many homes, yet because of her avid persistence, she succeeds in learning the story of the Lacks and Henrietta.
The book correlates into what we are learning in class now, as the few chapters speak of cells, DNA transfer, somewhat genetic research, and proteins.
My favorite part of the book, if not the facts, would have been the fact that the family had greatly adhered to superstition around HeLa cells. They truly believe, and i truly believe, that their mother watched over them and unleashed her wrath on all of those that would have caused harm to the family. You know what they say. Hell hath no fury like HeLa's scorn. hahaha ;)
DeleteI was also interested by the superstition that the Lacks family believed in regarding Henrietta and her cells. And the fact that Dr. Gey was so dedicated to the advancement of science that when he discovered that he had pancreatic cancer, he asked doctors to operate on him and get samples of his cells to try and create another line of immortal cells; "GeGe" cells. I found it a little sad when they doctors found out the Dr. Gey's cancer had spread to the point of it being inoperable. It was very ironic how they very thing Dr. Gey had been working to fight and researching his whole life became the death of him. But regardless of this frightening information, all he was ever really concerned with was having his cells become immortal. Not the pain of his cancer or his approaching death but immortalizing his cells for science.
DeleteSydney I agree with you on so many points. The ominous feeling that was apparent every time Skloot tried to dig deeper and deeper in to the personal aspects happened to be very intriguing. Also the ingenuity as well as the determination of the two scientists that wasn't brought upon by money or fame, but by the sheer possibility that they could make a huge breakthrough for science and that was a reward in itself. Maybe if more people including scientists acted in that manner, the world would be even farther advanced and less dangerous as it is today. Who knows?
DeleteI find it very intriguing that Gartler gave a speech in front of a conference full of scientists. He proposed that he found 18 of the widely-used cultures to contain G6PD-A. This was a genetic marker found primarily in African Americans. This part interested me. What made the make up of African Americans' bodies so different that they would contain the G6PD-A marker, yet Hispanics and Caucasians rarely did. He also claimed that HeLa cells were contaminants to laboratories across the globe.
ReplyDeleteAs a reader, we get the notion that Gartler made most of the scientists present at this convention pretty mad. He made them feel as if they had wasted 15 years of research and millions of dollars on a pointless and lost cause. He proved that HeLa cells were able to move through the air on dust particles and that by one HeLa cells reaching a culture, it would infect every cell present.
AGREED. None of the scientists believed him, except for one, so he had to publicize his findings and make them known. That's one thing I find sad about the science society; I think they all should be open to new findings even if it did mean that they wasted 15 years of their time and money. And like you, i find the fact that the HeLa cells couuld move through the air on dust particles. Kind of scary, huh? Well, to me it is.
Deletei agree and its ironic how today there still some question on that subject. i think that african american have more diveristy because the first human like life form was found in africa so i think that every race is a branch off of the african american. that would explain the lack of diversty n a white person and any other race. it amazing how scientist are about new ideas but they dismiss ideas with out testing them or looking into its sad and thats how people waste time with discoveries.
DeleteI really liked these chapters because it delved into the specific moments that the family had found out a piece of their mother was out in the world being suspended in vials full of medium being sold around the world as if she were an object. For some reason, none of the doctors or people representing science were ever straight forward with the Lacks family. I find this very disturbing that the majority of people in those fields lacked any kind of standards or morals. Those doctors could tell that they were regular black people with subpar educations. Could it really be that hard to tell them that you're not testing for cancer but for some genetic marker in their blood. I also liked how the book draws attention to their superstitions towards the HeLa cells (considering i have a superstitious background as well). They still believed that the will of Henrietta lived on in her cells and that she watched over her family even though they couldn't see her.
ReplyDeleteThese chapters also showed a major progression in the field of medicine and science (to the dismay of scientists and doctors alike). The government had created specific guidelines that hospitals and scientific facilities had to adhere to without question that force the moralistic values that they so greatly lacked. Then there was the discovery of cell contamination. HeLa was so powerful that it had grown out of control and taken over different cultures. This was one of the biggest developments in the field at that time. If scientists could prove that HeLa cells had in fact contaminated so many cell lines, then we would be up crap creek. That would mean hundres of millions, even billions, of dollars would have been spent in vain because of this anomaly. The funniest part to me was when Hsu signed Skloot's book then told her to ask Deborah if she wanted to give blood (after all these years and all the crap she had been put through!!!).
I think these guidelines were very necessary. Do you? Before the rules and regulations, doctors and nurses could do practically anything without being sued or punished. The cell contamination played a big part in science history I believe. Though it surprised me that no significant amount of scientists really stopped using the HeLa cells after that.
DeleteI agree. The doctors were insensitive and immoral; their actions unjust. It is apparent that the doctors did not care of how the Lacks family would feel if important information of a deceased family member was not delivered.
DeleteThis book is getting better and better with each chapter. I enjoyed reading the part about the Lacks family. About Joe going to jail, and Deborah moving in with Lawrence and Bobette. I found it quite intriguing while reading how African Americans viewed John Hopkins Hospital. It seemed like a nightmare. Doctors kidnapping people to experiment on them, shake my head.
ReplyDeleteThough Henrietta's tumor had been incorrectly diagnosed, I don't think it made a big change in her treatment. The doctor said that it did not. Gartler was a geneticist. He stated that HeLa cells were contaminating other cells. As I read this part I became confused because I didn't know if the contamination came from the G6PD-A or the cancerous cells. It amazed me how the HeLa cells could float around and survive. We are talking about cells in class, and a little about DNA so this corresponds with the Skloot's book.
i find it harsh about what they said about John Hopkins Hosiptal but if there were rules back then like there are now doctors could have gotten in trouble and also sued. and i also agree with you about Henrietta tumor if it was treated right and they did proper treatment she probably could have went a little longer
DeleteChapters 20-24 really were interesting to read. the part about her family was amazing and the stories they have.And its good that they know their mother cells had something to do with curing so many things. there were really sweet things everyone said about her nothing bad. i do believe henereitta could have survived a little longer if she would have gotten proper treatment but all the doctors wanted to do was experinment on people.And also John Hopkins didnt get any permission from none of her family members about keep her body Day just told them they could do a autopsy on her. Gartler started talking about G6PD-a it really grabbed my attention and that its in only african americans.
ReplyDeleteBut i find it traumatising about what people had to say about John Hopkins Hosiptal that place should really get closed down.The doctors act like black didnt have lifes they wanted to live so they just got them and injected them with stuff they didnt know about.Gey had cancer so he wanted to see who wanted to experiment on him so they could try and find something to cure it and also take some of his cells and see if they would do what HeLa cells did, but his cancer spreaded all over his body. in my ap bio class we are talking about glucose, phosphate and also cells so this is really corresponding with what we are doing in class.
I agree with you on the chapter, scientist like hopkins, did experiments in Tuskeege Institution where they injected people with this diease called syphillis. I also think it was nice how the family founded out about Henrietta's cells, but was horrible how people kept the HeLa cells hidden for twenty-one years! It was worse when other scientist were asking for the information about who's cells were they. Funny thing about the first paragraph, I said the same thing aswell," that if scientist had spent more time on Henrietta she would have still been alive."
DeleteSeveral things grabbed my attention in these last few chapters. The fact that Dr. Gartler concluded that HeLa cells were contaminating other cells present and basically trying to prove all the scientists' research containing HeLa cells worthless really grabbed my attention. I wonder if he was nervous or scared in the slightest at how the other scientists would react when he told them that they basically wasted all their time, money, and research. It makes you wonder if he wanted the attention when releasing his findings. I did find is extremely interest how Dr. Gartler said that HeLa cells could travel in the air on dust particles and basically take over any other cells that they came in contact with. That is the first time I ever heard of cells being able to do such things.
ReplyDeleteI also found it interesting when it came to matters of the members of the Lacks family and their health issues. It seemed as if all the memebers of the family had some kind of heath issue that required serious medication or an operation and yet after all that Henrietta's cells have done for science and the medical field, they are unable to afford healthcare for themselves. It just seems unfair to have them be left out in the dust like that. Especially when it comes to the fact that no one initially informed the lacks family about the findings of what HeLa cells could really do. It also intrigued me at how members of the Lacks family like Day and Sonny had health issues that required being operated on, like the fact that Day's leg needed to be amputated with the gangrene in his feet or that Sonny needed an angioplasty, and they refused to be operated on. They would rather live with the pain that their sicknesses brought them then have doctors "cut up" and operate on them like they did Henrietta. It just shows how much everything involving Henrietta and her cells have really affected the family.
The doctors could have used her cells, had they known the origin, to treat and diagnose her family member's ailments more effectively, They could have had a genetic link within the disease, such as with Sonny's angioplasty. With a number of heart related problems, there is the prsence of a genetic link. My brother has had a pacemaker from birth, and everytime I go to the doctor I have to put down that he does, just in case there is a link.
DeleteIn these last few chapters, what really caught my eye was much effort someone can put into smudging the works of others. Was he angry that a rival scientist made a discovery that happened to overshadow one he made? Well whatever the case was, it seems despicable and just overall wrong. Another interesting thing that was the very apparent racism that played a part in the doctors neglecting to direct and fully inform the Lacks family on what exactly they were doing with the cells.
ReplyDeleteThere happened to be a something that I picked up on while reading that seemingly corresponded with what were are studying now in class. Firstly, the scientists were looking for certain genetic marking within the making of the HeLa cells. This connects to how we have been studying how a blip or replacement in the strand can seriously effect how the cell functions. For an example 1 thing is change in a sickle cell that doesn't allow the protein to fold correctly, so the scientists were searching for something unusal that would effect the cells.
Today in class we learned about mitochondrial DNA and how it is strictly maternal, resulting in labs testing within this nucleic acids structure for maternal qualities. What I find fascinating about this is within the science of women's health. HeLa cell,s just as any other cell, contain mitochondria with DNA strictly from her mother, which can be used to detect traits such as birth defects caused by mutation of genes in the X chromosome.
ReplyDeleteWith the connection to women's health, HeLa cells to this point may have linked certain cancers or feminine diseases genetically, letting us know more about them and how we can treat these disease effectively.
what i found intreasting in this book is that henrietta lacks cell were produce to help find cures and make medicine to help people yet Deborah she has arthritis, osteoporosis, nerve deafness, anxiety, and depression, along with high blood pressure and diabetes. its awful that they used her mother cell wthout consent but on top of that her children didnt even get the medice they used her mothers cell to help created. also i was intreasted in the fact that her family didnt even know about it i mean just think about it they were shipped to labatories practilly after they realized they were immortal. i also found the gentic diversity in the african genic marker yet it wasnt in any other race that is so cool i wonder if that why they found the immortal cells in heneritta and not in any other woman at that time.
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