: a cell of a continuously cultured strain isolated from a human uterine cervical carcinoma in 1951 and used in biomedical research especially to culture viruses
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The Lacks family’s lawsuits have sought to recoup the profits gained by medical firms that have used HeLa cells, and to prevent them from using cells without the estate’s permission.
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Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2024
This also means that many of the studies that use HeLa cells also rely heavily on Lacks’ genetic data.
—Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2024
While scientists delighted in HeLa’s powers, Mrs. Lacks’s family, particularly Deborah, were horrified and confused by the story of the HeLa cells.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 20 Oct. 2023
One aspect that makes the Lacks case special is that the HeLa cell line bears her name, making all the research stemming from it traceable to her as the point of origin.
—Gretchen Cuda Kroen, cleveland, 12 Aug. 2023
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Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2024
This also means that many of the studies that use HeLa cells also rely heavily on Lacks’ genetic data.
—Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2024
While scientists delighted in HeLa’s powers, Mrs. Lacks’s family, particularly Deborah, were horrified and confused by the story of the HeLa cells.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 20 Oct. 2023
One aspect that makes the Lacks case special is that the HeLa cell line bears her name, making all the research stemming from it traceable to her as the point of origin.
—Gretchen Cuda Kroen, cleveland, 12 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for HeLa cell
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“HeLa cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HeLa%20cell. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hela cell
nounoften capitalized H & 1st L
: a cell of a continuously cultured strain isolated from a human uterine cervical carcinoma in 1951 and used in biomedical research especially to culture viruses
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