HeLa cell

noun

ˈhe-lə- 

: 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

Examples of HeLa cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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. —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

But HeLa cells turned out to be immortal: While most cells die soon after being placed in a Petri dish, Lacks’s cells doubled about every 24 hours. —Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 1 Aug. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Henrietta Lacks †1951 patient from whom the cells were taken

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hela cell

noun

ˈhē-lə- 

often 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