This Radiolab episode recounts the largely unknown story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) were unknowingly harvested and became crucial to medical research. The podcast features interviews with researchers, family members, and Rebecca Skloot, author of *The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks*. It details how HeLa cells revolutionized medicine, contributing to polio vaccine development and countless other breakthroughs, while highlighting the ethical dilemmas surrounding the use of her cells without her or her family's consent. The episode concludes by discussing the recent efforts to address these ethical concerns and involve the Lacks family in decisions regarding HeLa cell research, including the creation of the HeLa Genome committee. A key takeaway is the complex interplay between scientific advancement and ethical considerations in medical research.
