HeLa is a cell type of an immortal cell line used in scientific research. It is the oldest and most commonly used human cell line. Its scientific name is Helacyton gartleri. It came from cervical cancer cells taken on February 8, 1951 from Henrietta Lains, who died of cancer on October 4, 1951. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Henrietta's cells were the first immortal human cells ever grown in culture. HeLa cells are called immortal because they can divide an unlimited number of times in a laboratory culture dish as long as the conditions for cell survival are met. There are many strains of HeLa cells as they continue to mutate in cell cultures, but all HeLa cells are descended from the same tumor cells removed by Henrietta Lacks. The total number of HeLa cells that were spread in cell culture far exceeds the total number of cells present in Henrietta Lack's body. HeLa cells grow rapidly with the right nutrients, conditions and space. This is because HeLa cells are cancer cells that rapidly multiply and grow uncontrollably compared to normal cells. They can also spread and infect other cells. HeLa cells became cancerous due to infection with human papilloma virus 18. Cervical cancer is closely associated with HPV 16 and HPV18, which can disrupt the cell's normal activity and cause it to become cancerous. However, not all women who contract one of these viruses will develop cervical cancer. In normal cells, cells can divide by mitosis only a certain number of times because the telomeres at the ends of the chromosomes shorten with each division. This does not apply to many types of cancer cells because they produce an enzyme called telomerase, which lengthens telomeres after chromosomes are copied and allows cells to continually multiply. Scientists have spent more time trying to keep cells alive than doing actual research on cancer cells. cells. An endless supply of HeLa cells has freed up time for discovery. In 1952, the worst year of the polio epidemic, HeLa cells were used to test the vaccine that protected millions of people. Scientists have learned to isolate a specific cell, multiply it, and start a cell line. Isolating a cell and keeping it alive is the basic technique for cloning and in vitro fertilization. Which is used to help people have children who can't. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay A scientist accidentally spilled a chemical on a HeLa cell that spread its tangled chromosomes. Subsequently, scientists used this technique to determine that humans have 46 chromosomes, 23 pairs, not 48, which provided the basis for making several types of genetic diagnoses. Lacks' cancer cells were found to use the enzyme telomerase to repair their DNA allowing them and other types of cancer cells to function when normal cells would have died. Anti-cancer drugs that act against this enzyme are currently in clinical trials.