1. Take a well developed position for or against the use of HeLa cells in research
We agree that although the situation was morally wrong and unethical, the use of these HeLa cells has led to many positive and significant contributions. However, It was one thing for the doctors to use her race to their advantage since consent for blacks wasn’t important back then. Also, it was another thing to tell the Lacks family that the use of her cells were in process years later. It was also wrong for the doctors to give no financial benefits to the family.
Once the doctors realized that Lacks’ cells were abnormal since they were still multiplying after she died, the cells were taken into major research. Even today, the cells are still being studied. This discovery had made large profits to science and medicine, although not given to the family. Science and medicine has changed as a whole ever since. The cells have treated many illnesses around the world. When a polio epidemic broke out, the cells were used to make vaccines as they aided so many people back to healthy states. In addition, the cells were sent to space to see how they were react in an atmosphere with such great pressure. The HeLa case cells have changed our perception on genes as when an accident occurred, the chromosomes of the cell were spread out, revealing that there are 46 chromosomes, instead of 48. All in all, although the use of the cells was morally wrong due to the neglected consent, the discoveries and contributions to the world, science, and medicine is tremendous, stressing our support for it.
Once the doctors realized that Lacks’ cells were abnormal since they were still multiplying after she died, the cells were taken into major research. Even today, the cells are still being studied. This discovery had made large profits to science and medicine, although not given to the family. Science and medicine has changed as a whole ever since. The cells have treated many illnesses around the world. When a polio epidemic broke out, the cells were used to make vaccines as they aided so many people back to healthy states. In addition, the cells were sent to space to see how they were react in an atmosphere with such great pressure. The HeLa case cells have changed our perception on genes as when an accident occurred, the chromosomes of the cell were spread out, revealing that there are 46 chromosomes, instead of 48. All in all, although the use of the cells was morally wrong due to the neglected consent, the discoveries and contributions to the world, science, and medicine is tremendous, stressing our support for it.
Your blog is detailed and organized! We liked how you really wrote specific examples of how HeLa cells are used for science, and what they contribute to. We agree with your position! It was upsetting to hear all the wrongdoings done to the Lacks family, but you have to look at the bigger picture. Not only did it help polio, it helped to solve herpes and other diseases!
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