Monday, December 8, 2014

Henrietta Lacks Reading Review



Chapter 7-8

     Chapter 7: The Death and Life of Cell Culture

What details suggest that Carrel’s claims about the immortal cell line were not scientifically sound?

Give an example of propaganda that was used to fuel the public’s fear and distrust of tissue culture.

What controversial beliefs did Carrell have?

How did the media react to Carrel’s announcement that he had grown immortal chicken heart cells?

Who was Alexis Carrell? Why did he win the Nobel Prize?

What did HeLa allow scientists to do for the first time?

What did Gey hope to accomplish with HeLa cells?

     Chapter 8: “A Miserable Specimen”

If Gey did speak to Henrietta just before she died, do you think she would have understood the immortal cells were? Explain your answer

While most accounts suggest that Henrietta never met George Gey or knew about HeLa, Laure Aurelian says that Gey recounted meeting with Henrietta before her death. Do you fine this story believable? Use specific facts about Henrietta, Gey, and/or medical practice in the 1950s to support your opinion.

What does the use of the term “a miserable specimen” by Henrietta’s doctor reveal about their attitude toward her?

What objective details suggest that Henrietta was a devoted loving mother?

What objective details suggest that Henrietta was in extreme pain at this point in her illness?

When did the doctors realize that Henrietta had been correct about the growth of her cancer?

In your own words, explain the paradox “benevolent deception.”

How did her doctors react to Henrietta’s intuitive conviction that the cancer was spreading inside of her?

After her initial round of treatment, what did Henrietta’s doctors assume about the effectiveness of the radium therapy?

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