The answer is Henrietta Lacks (although she was named Loretta Pleasant at birth). She was an American Black woman. Cells harvested from her in 1951 have been used in everything from developing the Polio vaccine to the HPV vaccine. Her cells have been injected with HIV, bombarded with radiation, and sent into space. You can read about her life, legacy, and contribution to your health in a book by Rebecca Skloot called "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks".
The answer is Henrietta Lacks (although she was named Loretta Pleasant at birth). She was an American Black woman. Cells harvested from her in 1951 have been used in everything from developing the Polio vaccine to the HPV vaccine. Her cells have been injected with HIV, bombarded with radiation, and sent into space. You can read about her life, legacy, and contribution to your health in a book by Rebecca Skloot called "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks".
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