Complicated cell biology, but here’s the short version: normal human chromosomes have a certain amount of “useless” genetic code at the ends because the enzyme that replicates DNA can’t quite replicate the ends, called telomeres. A little bit of the telomeres are lost with each cell replication. Once the telomeres are gone, the cell becomes senescent and dies. This sounds bad but it’s not; it’s how cells evolved to work and it’s part of the normal aging process. HeLa cells, on the other hand, have a special enzyme called telomerase that’s normally only found in cancer cells that lengthen the telomeres. So the cell’s biological candle never burns out and it lives forever.
While people always treat Southwest Virginia as a monolithic mass of MAGA coal rollers, Roanoke (the city, the county much less so) is a lovely place whose residents vote on the good side of things
But but but ... how will we learn about history if all the Confederate statues are torn down?
Oh. Wait. Phrasing it that way makes it sound stupid. Let me consult the Big Golden Book of Republican Talking Points. My copy was signed by Ben Shapiro.
Heading off to Roanoke tomorrow morning to be with my folks for Christmas. I hadn’t even heard about this statue going up, how cool. I’ll definitely pop into the city and check it out! I think I know where the least statue was, but I can’t be sure.
Henrietta Lacks was not a hero. She was a victim of the medical research establishment. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize her and what happened to her. Her story is an important rallying point for recognition of, respect for, and recompense to patients. And, I would imagine, the medical establishment most likely failed to give her adequate medical care as she was a woman and a Black woman. And her family deserves financial recognition if for nothing else to vigorously remind the current medical research establishment to cut it the fuck out.
Interestingly, disadvantages of working with HeLa cells have been recognized recently:"As powerful as HeLa cells were, they had several disadvantages — after all, they were cancerous and had many errors in the genome, which presented limitations in research. Moreover, HeLa cells could contaminate cell cultures easily as they outgrew other cells."The Oxford Scientist: https://oxsci.org/10516-2/
Indeed so princess. That’s where I’m from. And where I’m heading off for Christmas to be with my folks. I was just in the city over Thanksgiving, and it was packed, more than I’ve ever seen before. When I was 18 and left for college the city of Roanoke was in terrible repair, but right after I left they started doing all of the renovations and restorations. It really is a neat little city, and a very liberal one too. One of the representatives for the area is a Muslim man, and he’s trying to get legislation through to lower the voting age to 16! So you’re right places like that or not monoliths, they are full of some very surprising people
I also think Henrietta Lacks was more victim than hero in this particular context. But I disagree with honoring the scientists and researchers. Even though the rules and regulations in place at the time would seem to obviate any opprobrium, the current medical research establishment needs to be given a jolt. This type of thing continues.
Crump is also suing the biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific on the Lacks family's behalf. The family argues that the company has profited from the growth and sale of HeLa cells without the family's consent. Crump's firm says the suit will "lay the foundation for genetic justice."
As a BRCA mutation carrier, I fully support the cause of genetic justice. Myriad Genetics can kiss my fabulous feline ass - patent or not, you don't own me.
And for those who aren't aware, Thermo is basically the Walmart of the sciences, so they've got some deeeeeeeep pockets...
"Lee as a sympathetic figure torn between love for his country and love for his state and how the latter won"
Yeah, that's what I was taught also. Along with Columbus "proving that the world was round" and the Puritans coming to America for religious freedom and on and on...
Take down a statue of someone who literally fought to monetize the bodies of Black people and replace it with a statue of a Black person whose body was monetized.
Works for me.
But let's be clear on this: not a "hero", a victim. If she had been told that her cells might be used to help others she would probably have agreed, and that would earn the first - but she was never asked and that means that only the second applies.
If we made the statues out of HeLa cells that problem would solve itself.
Complicated cell biology, but here’s the short version: normal human chromosomes have a certain amount of “useless” genetic code at the ends because the enzyme that replicates DNA can’t quite replicate the ends, called telomeres. A little bit of the telomeres are lost with each cell replication. Once the telomeres are gone, the cell becomes senescent and dies. This sounds bad but it’s not; it’s how cells evolved to work and it’s part of the normal aging process. HeLa cells, on the other hand, have a special enzyme called telomerase that’s normally only found in cancer cells that lengthen the telomeres. So the cell’s biological candle never burns out and it lives forever.
Whoa. I wonder, I mean I suppose there could be useful applications for telomerase cells.
While people always treat Southwest Virginia as a monolithic mass of MAGA coal rollers, Roanoke (the city, the county much less so) is a lovely place whose residents vote on the good side of things
Well worth a visit
But but but ... how will we learn about history if all the Confederate statues are torn down?
Oh. Wait. Phrasing it that way makes it sound stupid. Let me consult the Big Golden Book of Republican Talking Points. My copy was signed by Ben Shapiro.
Heading off to Roanoke tomorrow morning to be with my folks for Christmas. I hadn’t even heard about this statue going up, how cool. I’ll definitely pop into the city and check it out! I think I know where the least statue was, but I can’t be sure.
Henrietta Lacks was not a hero. She was a victim of the medical research establishment. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize her and what happened to her. Her story is an important rallying point for recognition of, respect for, and recompense to patients. And, I would imagine, the medical establishment most likely failed to give her adequate medical care as she was a woman and a Black woman. And her family deserves financial recognition if for nothing else to vigorously remind the current medical research establishment to cut it the fuck out.
Interestingly, disadvantages of working with HeLa cells have been recognized recently:"As powerful as HeLa cells were, they had several disadvantages — after all, they were cancerous and had many errors in the genome, which presented limitations in research. Moreover, HeLa cells could contaminate cell cultures easily as they outgrew other cells."The Oxford Scientist: https://oxsci.org/10516-2/
Indeed so princess. That’s where I’m from. And where I’m heading off for Christmas to be with my folks. I was just in the city over Thanksgiving, and it was packed, more than I’ve ever seen before. When I was 18 and left for college the city of Roanoke was in terrible repair, but right after I left they started doing all of the renovations and restorations. It really is a neat little city, and a very liberal one too. One of the representatives for the area is a Muslim man, and he’s trying to get legislation through to lower the voting age to 16! So you’re right places like that or not monoliths, they are full of some very surprising people
I also think Henrietta Lacks was more victim than hero in this particular context. But I disagree with honoring the scientists and researchers. Even though the rules and regulations in place at the time would seem to obviate any opprobrium, the current medical research establishment needs to be given a jolt. This type of thing continues.
They better have good security for it. Even when Virginia does a nice thing you know some snowflake out there is going to try to fuq it up.
I'm not a big fan of statues in general, particularly when they show a white man on a horse, but I approve of this one.
hanged
Crump is also suing the biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific on the Lacks family's behalf. The family argues that the company has profited from the growth and sale of HeLa cells without the family's consent. Crump's firm says the suit will "lay the foundation for genetic justice."
As a BRCA mutation carrier, I fully support the cause of genetic justice. Myriad Genetics can kiss my fabulous feline ass - patent or not, you don't own me.
And for those who aren't aware, Thermo is basically the Walmart of the sciences, so they've got some deeeeeeeep pockets...
He fought to maintain the institution of slavery, and to destroy the United States.
"Lee as a sympathetic figure torn between love for his country and love for his state and how the latter won"
Yeah, that's what I was taught also. Along with Columbus "proving that the world was round" and the Puritans coming to America for religious freedom and on and on...
Take down a statue of someone who literally fought to monetize the bodies of Black people and replace it with a statue of a Black person whose body was monetized.
Works for me.
But let's be clear on this: not a "hero", a victim. If she had been told that her cells might be used to help others she would probably have agreed, and that would earn the first - but she was never asked and that means that only the second applies.