• Visit
    • Calendar
    • After Dark Thursdays
    • Exhibits
    • Artworks on View
    • Getting Here
    • Event Rentals
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
    • Learning About Learning
    • Community Programs
    • Educator Newsletter
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
    • Activities
    • Video
    • Exhibits
    • Apps
    • Blogs
    • Websites
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Partnerships
    • Global Collaborations
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
    • Contact Us
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
    • Attend a fundraiser
    • Party at the Piers
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Host your event
    • Volunteer
  • Store

Exhibits

  • A–Z
  • Subjects
  • Locations
  • Random
  • Visit
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Calendar
      • Today
      • This Week
      • Online
      • After Dark Thursday Nights
      • Arts
      • Conferences
      • Cinema Arts
      • Free and Community Events
      • Fundraising Events
      • Kids + Families
      • Live Streams
      • Members
      • Special Hours and Open Mondays
      • Private Event Closures
    • Getting Here
    • Museum Map
    • Reduced Rates & Community Day
    • Accessibility
    • Tips for Visiting with Kids
    • How to Exploratorium
    • Exhibits
    • Tactile Dome
    • Artworks on View
    • Cinema Arts
    • Kanbar Forum
    • Black Box
    • Museum Galleries
      • Bernard and Barbro Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomena
        • Exhibition: Science of Sharing
          • Educator Activities
        • Tactile Dome
          • 1971 Press Release
        • Black Box
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 2: Tinkering
        • Curator Statement
      • Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing and Listening
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 4: Living Systems
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 5: Outdoor Exhibits
        • Curator Statement
      • Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes
        • Wired Pier Environmental Field Station
        • Curator Statement
      • PlayLists
        • All PlayLists
        • A Different Light
        • “We” or “Just Me”?
        • See Yourself in Cells
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 2
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 3
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 4
        • Museum Map
    • Restaurant & Café
    • School Field Trips
      • Getting Here
        • Bus Routes for Field Trips and Other Groups
      • Prices and Discounts
      • Planning Guide
      • Reservations
        • Field Trip Request Form
      • Resources
    • Event Rentals
      • COVID-Compliant Options
      • Full Facility & Gallery Bundles
      • Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery & Terrace
      • East Gallery
      • Bechtel Central Gallery
      • Osher West Gallery
      • Kanbar Forum

      • Weddings
      • Proms and School Events
      • Daytime Meetings & Events
      • Happy Hour on the Water

      • Rentals FAQ
      • Event Planning Resources
      • Rental Request Form
      • Download Brochure (pdf)
    • Exploratorium Store
    • Contact Us
    • Español
    • 繁體中文
    • 简体中文
    • 한국어
    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • Português
    • 日本語
  • Education
    • Black Teachers and Students Matter
    • Professional Development Programs
      • Teacher Institute
        • About the Teacher Institute
        • Summer Institute for Teachers
        • Teacher Induction Program
        • Leadership Program
        • Teacher Institute Research
        • CA NGSS STEM Conferences
          • NGSS STEM Conference 2020
        • Science Snacks
          • Browse by Subject
          • Special Collections
          • Science Snacks A-Z
          • NGSS Planning Tools
          • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Digital Teaching Boxes
        • Meet the Teacher Institute Staff
        • Resources for Supporting Science Teachers
      • Institute for Inquiry
        • What Is Inquiry?
        • Inquiry-based Science and English Language Development
          • Educators Guide
            • Conceptual Overview
              • Science Talk
              • Science Writing
            • Classroom Video Gallery
              • Magnet Investigation
              • Snail Investigation
            • Teacher Professional Development
            • Project Studies
            • Acknowledgments
          • Conference: Exploring Science and English Language Development
            • Interviews with Participants
            • Plenary Sessions
            • Synthesis, Documentation, and Resources
        • Workshops
          • Participant Portal
          • Fundamentals of Inquiry
            • Summary Schedule
          • BaySci Science Champions Academy
          • Facilitators Guides
          • Commissioned Workshops
        • Resource Library
        • Meet the IFI Staff
      • Resources for California Educators
      • K-12 Science Leader Network
      • Resources for Supporting Science Teachers
      • Field Trip Explainer Program
      • Cambio
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
      • Learning Toolbox
      • Science Snacks
      • Digital Teaching Boxes
      • Science Activities
      • Tinkering Projects
      • Recursos gratuitos para aprender ciencias
      • Videos
      • Exhibits
      • Publications
      • Apps
      • Educator Newsletter
      • Exploratorium Websites
    • Educator Newsletter
    • Advancing Ideas about Learning
      • Visitor Research and Evaluation
        • What we do
        • Reports & Publications
        • Projects
        • Who we are
      • Center for Informal Learning in Schools
    • Community Programs
      • High School Explainer Program
      • Xtech
      • Community Educational Engagement
      • California Tinkering Afterschool Network
        • About
        • Partners
        • Resources
        • News & Updates
        • Further Reading
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
      • Arts
      • Astronomy & Space Sciences
        • Planetary Science
        • Space Exploration
      • Biology
        • Anatomy & Physiology
        • Ecology
        • Evolution
        • Genetics
        • Molecular & Cellular Biology
        • Neuroscience
      • Chemistry
        • Combining Matter
        • Food & Cooking
        • Materials & Matter
        • States of Matter
      • Data
        • Data Collection & Analysis
        • Modeling & Simulations
        • Visualization
      • Earth Science
        • Atmosphere
        • Geology
        • Oceans & Water
      • Engineering & Technology
        • Design & Tinkering
        • Real-World Problems & Solutions
      • Environmental Science
        • Global Systems & Cycles
        • Human Impacts
      • History
      • Mathematics
      • Nature of Science
        • Measurement
        • Science as a Process
        • Size & Scale
        • Time
      • Perception
        • Light, Color & Seeing
        • Listening & Hearing
        • Optical Illusions
        • Scent, Smell & Taste
        • Tactile & Touch
      • Physics
        • Electricity & Magnetism
        • Energy
        • Heat & Temperature
        • Light
        • Mechanics
        • Quantum
        • Sound
        • Waves
      • Social Science
        • Culture
        • Language
        • Psychology
        • Sociology
    • Browse by Content Type
      • Activities
      • Blogs
      • Exhibits
      • Video
      • Websites
      • Apps
        • Total Solar Eclipse
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Impact Report
    • Fact Sheet
    • Awards
    • Our History
      • 50 Years 1969–2019

    • Senior Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board of Trustees Alumni
    • Staff Scientists
    • Staff Artists

    • Arts at the Exploratorium
      • Artworks on View
      • Artist-in-Residence Program
      • Cinema Arts
        • History and Collection
        • Cinema Artists-in-Residence
        • Resources and Collaborating Organizations
        • Kanbar Forum
      • Center for Art & Inquiry
        • Begin Here
          • Lessons
            • Bob Miller/Light Walk
            • Ruth Asawa/Milk Carton Sculpture
          • Workshops
      • Resonance
        • About the Series
        • See & Hear
        • Past Seasons
      • Over the Water
      • Black Box
      • Upcoming Events
      • Temporary Exhibitions
      • Arts Program Staff
      • Arts Committee and Advisers
    • Teacher Institute
    • Institute for Inquiry
    • Online Engagement
    • Explainer Programs
    • Studio for Public Spaces
    • Exhibit Making
    • Partnerships
      • Building Global Connections
        • Global Collaborations
          • Projects
          • Approach
          • People
          • Impact
      • Partnering with Science Agencies
        • NASA
        • NOAA
      • Partnering with Educational Institutions
      • Osher Fellows

    • Job Opportunities
    • Become a Volunteer

    • Contact Info
    • Newsletter
    • Educator Newsletter
    • Blogs
    • Follow & Share
    • Press Office

    • FY20 Audit Report
    • 990 FY19 Tax Return
    • Use Policy
      • Privacy Policy
      • Intellectual Property Policy
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
      • Membership FAQ
      • Member Benefits
      • After Dark Membership
      • Member Events
      • May Is for Members
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
      • Corporate Membership
      • Luminary Partnerships
    • Attend a fundraiser
      • Wonder Funday
      • Science of Cocktails
      • Party at the Piers
        • Event Leadership and Host Committee
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Volunteer
      • Benefits
      • How to Apply
      • Application for Corporate Groups
      • Application for Internships
      • Application for Professional Societies
      • Application for School Groups & Clubs
      • Our Contract
      • Application for Individuals
      • Opportunities
  • Press Office
    • Press Releases
    • News Coverage
    • Events Calendar
    • Fact Sheet
    • Photographs
    • Press Video
    • Press Kits
    • Press Visits
    • Exploratorium Logos
    • Recent Awards
    • Praise for the Exploratorium
    • Join Our Press List
  • Store
 

Learn with us online while the Exploratorium is temporarily closed. You can help us reopen—donate today.

Exploratorium
Exploratorium
  • Visit
    • Calendar
    • After Dark Thursdays
    • Exhibits
    • Artworks on View
    • Getting Here
    • Event Rentals
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
    • Learning About Learning
    • Community Programs
    • Educator Newsletter
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
    • Activities
    • Video
    • Exhibits
    • Apps
    • Blogs
    • Websites
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Partnerships
    • Global Collaborations
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
    • Contact Us
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
    • Attend a fundraiser
    • Party at the Piers
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Host your event
    • Volunteer
  • Store

Exhibits

  • A–Z
  • Subjects
  • Locations
  • Random
  • A microscope image from the Exploratorium exhibit Are Your Cells You?
  • Exploratorium exhibit Are Your Cells You?
  • Henrietta Lacks
  • Are HeLa cells merely cells, or part of Henrietta Lacks's self?

  • A microscope image from the Exploratorium exhibit Are Your Cells You?
  • Exploratorium exhibit Are Your Cells You?
  • Henrietta Lacks
  • Are Your Cells You?

Are Your Cells You?

Explore ethical and philosophical questions about the first "immortal" cell line.


Where:   Gallery 4: Living Systems
Exhibit Developers:   Jennifer Berry, Angela Armendariz, and Kevin Boyd, 2017

As visitors examine a microscope view of living HeLa cells—the first “immortal” cell line—they explore ethical and philosophical questions about these historic and controversial cells.

HeLa cells can divide indefinitely, and helped revolutionize biomedical research. However, they also were taken by medical researchers without permission from Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman in the 1950s.

Are HeLa cells merely cells, or are they part of the self of Henrietta Lacks?

 

External resources

Website about the book: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

Press release: “NIH, Lacks Family Reach Understanding to Share Genomic Data of HeLa Cells.” National Institutes of Health, 2013

Article: “The Good, The Bad, and The HeLa,” by Alexandra del Carpio, Berkeley Science Review, 2014

 
Aliases: HeLa Cells
Collections: Cells to Self

More to explore

Science activity that explores growth rates for cultured cells
How Many HeLa?

Dividing cells expand exponentially.

Cells to Self
Cells to Self

Exploring how human cells move, communicate, and respond to their environment.

Related exhibits

Give Heart Cells a Beat
Give Heart Cells a Beat

Use your heart rate to drive the beating of human heart cells. 

Look Inside a Developing Fish
Look Inside a Developing Fish

Use a microscope to investigate developing zebrafish eggs.

Live Chicken Embryos
Live Chicken Embryos

Take a look at living chicken embryos in various stages of development.

Exploratorium
Visit
Join
Give

Pier 15
(Embarcadero at Green Street)
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 528-4444

Contact Us

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Getting Here
  • Calendar
  • Tactile Dome
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Become a Member
  • Donate
  • Event Rentals
  • Jobs
  • Volunteer
  • Press Office

Get at-home activities and learning tools delivered straight to your inbox

The Exploratorium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID #: 94-1696494
© 2021 Exploratorium | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Your California Privacy Rights |