American cell donor Henrietta Lacks (1920-1951) was the unwitting creator of the world's first "immortal" cell line, HeLa. Developed from a handful of cells culled from Lacks's cervical cancer tumor, the HeLa cell line has been used to research a number of important 20th and 21st century medical advances, including the polio vaccine and genetic disorder testing. Despite the widespread use of Lacks's cells, the donor herself went unrecognized and even misidentified for many years due to the medical practices of the era. In the 21st century, increased popular attention has been paid to Lacks thanks to a 2010 New York Times best-selling book and a 2017 film about her life and legacy that was produced by Oprah Winfrey.
- August 01, 1920
- October 04, 1951