Chapter 12
How did Day initially respond to an autopsy to be done on Henrietta?
He said No
Explain how a neutralization test for polio was used to determine the vaccine’s efficacy.
Mix blood serum from newly vaccinated children with live polio viruses and cells in culture.The vaccinated cells would then block the polio virus and protect the cells.
How soon after Henrietta died did journalist attempt to write about her?
Two years after her death the Minneapolis Star became the first publication to name the woman behind the HeLa cells.
How old were Henrietta’s oldest (Lawrence) and youngest (Joe) children when their mother died?
16 and 1 years old
How did Henrietta’s family acquire the land that became known as Lacks Town?
From the slave plantation of The Lacks
Why did Henrietta’s doctors need to ask for her family’s permission to remove tissue samples after her death?
There was no law about removing tissue from a patient while they are alive, but it is illegal to remove tissue samples from the "dead" without the family's permission.
What unusual characteristics of HeLa cells made them ideal for use in the polio vaccine trials?
HeLa cells grew rapidly and were susceptible to the polio virus, which not all cells were.
What reasons did Berg give for wanting information about the woman whose cells were used to grow HeLa?
2 days after reading the Minneapolis Star's article, Berg said he planned to write a more detailed article for a popular magazine.
What reason did Ethel and Galen give for moving in with Day after Henrietta’s death?
To help take care of the kids
According Cliff, what is “beautiful” about the idea of “slaveowning white Lackses being buried under their black kin”?
Their dead bodies are spending eternity with each other so they've must've worked out their problems by now.
What made Day change his mind and allow the autopsy?
His cousin said it wouldn't hurt to have an autopsy so he agreed.
Why did the Tuskegee Institute become involved in the mass production of HeLa cells?
Because it provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding and jobs for young black scientist.
How did TeLinde, Gey, and others at Johns Hopkins respond to Berg’s request?
They agreed but requested that the name be withheld for privacy.
How did Ethels abuse affect Joe?
Joe turned angry and would lay on his stomach on the roof shooting people with a BB gun
What did Skloot do when she visited the Lacks family cemetery what did she realize about Henrietta's mother?
She did the math and realized Henrietta was the same age as her mother when she died.
What happened when the family started to bury Henrietta’s body?
A storm with rain, thunder and lightening came and burned down the tobacco fields. Wind blew the roof off a cousins house ,killing him as the house landed on him.
Why is standardization important in scientific research?
Replication is an important part of science. Work isn't valid if it can't be repeated and get the same results. Therefore there needs to be a standardized way of doing scientific research.
Why didn’t Henrietta’s family know that her cells were still alive?
Because they never used Henrietta's real name.
Why do you think no one told Deborah very much about her mom and her sister?
Because they were told to keep quiet with adults as if children didnt matter.
Who are the white and black Lacks' common ancestors?
Ben and Albert Lacks
What did Mary, Gey’s assistant, realize when she saw Henrietta’s painted toenails?
She realized that this was a body of a real human being. She envisioned her sitting in her bathroom painting her nails.
Explain some of the contribution that HeLa made to the emerging field of "genetics".
HeLa helped with cloning, in-vitro, and discover genetic diseases like down syndrome
What various factual errors that appeared in the stories about HeLa on purpose?
Henrietta's name. Date of HeLa discovery. Where Henrietta was born.
What challenges from Deborah childhood did she have to overcome?
Deborah had to overcome nightmares of all the awful things that had happened to her mom,siblings,and herself.
What ais the attitude Ruby Lacks had about the black Lacks family membe?
They didn't know each other. Ruby Lack's didn't believe in race mixing.