Summary: Henrietta Lacks grew up in poverty, but her spirits made the best of it. When she was diagnosed with cancer, as a black woman, it was difficult to find a hospital that would even admit her. She suffered immensely, and ended up passing away, but before that, scientists unknowingly took cell samples that would multiply endlessly to stock research labs across the world.
Takeaways: This book shifts from scientific history of the cells to the Lacks' family perspective. It was saddening that the family members were not told any information, and therefore, were confused and scared by words such as “cloning” their mother’s cells. It was a long, dense read, but I found the conflict fascinating.
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