Tues - Feb 23rd
February brings Black History Month and we will be recognizing a special African American each day during our announcements. Today we are recognizing
Henrietta Lacks (1920-1951) Unvolunteering Cell Donor
Lacks was a 31-year-old mother of five when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Just months before her death, doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore sliced pieces of tissue from her cancerous tumor without her consent — in effect, stealing them. It was another instance of decades of clinical practices that discriminated against blacks. Lacks was not a slave, but parts of her cancerous tumor represent the first human cells ever bought and sold. Her cells, known among scientists as HeLa, were unusual in that they could rapidly reproduce and stay alive long enough to undergo multiple tests. Lacks’ cells — now worth billions of dollars — live in laboratories across the world. They played an important part in developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and in vitro fertilization. The HeLa cell line has been used to develop drugs for treating leukemia, influenza, and Parkinson’s disease. They’ve been influential in the study of cancer, lactose digestion, transmitted diseases, and appendicitis. Henrietta Lacks, an African-American who we celebrate today for Black History Month.
7th and 8th graders:
The Binning Family Foundation has an opportunity for you to join their QuaranTEEN Film Festival! Create an original 3-5 minute school-appropriate film and enter it to be reviewed by a panel of judges for prizes. If you’re interested, stop by the office for more information.
All students that had STEM 1st Semester should drop by Room 1211 to pick up any 3d Printed projects THIS WEEK.