What is spontaneous transformation? 5. 6. Common Core Standards English Language Arts 11-12:Key Ideas and Details Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain. Ted Slavin a hemophiliac whose doctor told him his cells were valuable. The hospital, near a Salem Witch Trials location, was already nicknamed The Witchs Castle, and combined with the stories of abuse, ghost stories flourished throughout the decades. What does Deborahs comment to Lurz that if you gonna go into history, you cant do it with a hate attitude tell you about the type of person she is? What do Golds comments about his decision to publish private information without consulting the Lacks family reveal about his attitude toward them? What is Lengauers attitude toward the HeLa contamination problem? If you are seeking medical records, you should ask your physician. In what other ways do scientists, corporations, and individuals profit as a result of HeLa? Why did Henriettas doctors need to ask for her familys permission to remove tissue samples after her death? 4. What do you think she expected to find? She is a former vice president of the National Book Critics Circle, and has taught creative nonfiction and science journalism at the University of Memphis, the University of Pittsburgh, and New York University. Roland Pattillo professor of gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine who was one of George Geys only African American students. Describe Keenan Kester Cofield. Using the history of Turner Station as a model, discuss the role that the oil, automotive, steel, and coal industries have played, and continue to play, in shaping the landscape of the United States. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Christopher Lengauer cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins who helped develop FISH, a technique used to detect and identify DNA sequences, and who reached out to members of the Lacks family. The Journals Division publishes 85 journals in the arts and humanities, technology and medicine, higher education, history, political science, and library science. 2. In 1992, African What does the 1969 Johns Hopkins study reveal about the researchers attitude and assumptions about race? As Skloot tenaciously worked to gain Deborahs trust, Deborah struggled to understand what had happened to her mother and her mothers cells. 4. 2017 African American Review He had five children by a former slave named Maria and leftpart of the Lacks plantation to them. Journalists and OthersCourtney Mama Speed resident of Turner Station and owner of Speeds Grocery. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. 20% Skloot ends this chapter with Deborah deciding to finally give her access to Henriettas medical records. 5. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Your email address will not be published. Why do you think Henrietta initially chose not to tell people about her cancer diagnosis? Do you agree with Pomerants suggestion that Gey should have finished his own research before releasing HeLa to the general public? Cliff Garrett Henriettas cousin. They were unable to find Elsie Lacks medical records there. 2. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Deborah shows him the photo of Elsie from Crownsville, and Gary is shocked. Teachers: If youd like a printable version of this guide, download the PDF attachment at the bottom of this page.About the Book In 1950, Henrietta Lacks, a young mother of five children, entered the colored ward of The Johns Hopkins Hospital to begin treatment for an extremely aggressive strain of cervical cancer. Explain how the sale of HeLa evolved into a business. Webright to view Elsie Lacks medical records. David He organizes a yearly HeLa conference at Morehouse in Henriettas honor. The symbolism of the fingernails is unmistakable. How did the people in Turner Station react to the presence of the BBC film crew and news of Henriettas newfound fame? A lay preacher, he performed a faith healing on Deborah.LaTonyaDeborah and Cheetahs second child; Davons motherLittle AlfredDeborahs grandsonMargaret SturdivantHenriettas cousin and confidante. 7. The two women visit Deborah's aunt Gladys, but Deborah is acting strangely. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How soon after Henriettas death did the media attempt to write about her? Locate a passage that you found particularly effective or memorable, and explain why you selected it. 4. How old was Henrietta when she had her first child with Day? 4. A lay preacher, he performed a faith healing on Deborah.LaTonyaDeborah and Cheetahs second child; Davons motherLittle AlfredDeborahs grandsonMargaret Sturdivant Henriettas cousin and confidante. Exhausted from staying up with the records. 9. 6. Explain why this moment is significant. What did Henriettas friends and family do when they found out that she needed blood? Chapter 37. Those cells, he hoped, would allow scientists to unlock the mysteries of cancer, and eventually lead to a cure for the disease. Days health had deteriorated too much to make the trip, Sonny had to work, and Lawrence still wanted to sue Hopkins. Central to this narrative is the relationship between Skloot and Deborah. literature, theatre, film, the visual arts, and culture generally; Deborah is still planning to give a speech at the National Foundation for Cancer Research Conference, and she also plans to go back to school to study science, so that she can better understand how her mother's cells are being used. Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. About the Author REBECCA SKLOOT is an award-winning science writer whose articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine; O, The Oprah Magazine; Discover; Prevention; Glamour; and others. He became known as a vigilante. 4. He ended up abusing Deborah. 5. She is the department chair for language arts at Tri-Cities High School, an urban public high school in southwest Atlanta. There are many excellent multimedia resources related to this book available on the authors website at RebeccaSkloot.com. The television show Law & Order produced an episode titled Immortal that closely parallels many aspects of Skloots book. Describe the abuse that Joe suffered under Ethels care. What is the implication of the authors decision to use the term birth to describe the initial growth of HeLa cells? What does Pattillo tell Skloot about Elsie Lacks? After learning about Crownsville, MD and what had happened to Elsie Lacks, Deborah was surprisingly upbeat. Gladys Lacks Henriettas sister who disapproved of Henriettas marriage to Day. Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs What reason does Deborah give for not wanting Skloot to type out Henriettas records word-for-word? Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Until this point, all of Geys attempts to grow a human cell line had ended in failure, but Henriettas cells were different: they never died. Henrietta's death was an enormous tragedy for Elsie Lacks, because Henrietta was the only one who visited her and tried to take care of her. What reasons did Berg give for wanting information about the woman whose cells were used to grow HeLa? As the official publication of the Division on Black American What was the lawyers main argument in Joes defense? You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. A smooth-talking con artist who pretends to be a lawyer in order to scam money from the Lacks family. He published details from Henriettas medical recordsand autopsy report without permission from the Lacks family.Michael Rogers Rolling Stone reporter who wrote an article about the Lacks family in 1976.He was the first journalist to contact the Lackses.Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofieldattempted to sue Johns Hopkins and the Lacks familyTed Slavin a hemophiliac whose doctor told him his cells were valuable. Nothing to Be Scared About 2001. Please try again later. What happens when there is a mistake during the process of mitosis? Moores doctor and the University of California appeal.1991 The Supreme Court of California rules against John Moore, saying that once tissues are removed from the body, with or without consent, a person no longer owns those tissues.1996 The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act makes it illegal for healthcare providers or health insurers to make personal medical information public.1999 The RAND Corporation publishes a report with a conservative estimate that more than 307 million tissue samples from more than 178 million people are stored in the United States alone. Why did Ted Slavin start Essential Biologicals? Chapter Ten: The Other Side of the Tracks 1. 10. Do you feel that it is an appropriate response? Struggling with distance learning? After Deborah told him about Elsiethat people thought she was disabled but that Deborah suspected she was just deafLurz rose and went to a storage cabinet. 2. Why do you think science reporting is often sensationalized? Locations. The questions and activities in the teaching guide for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks were written to support standards-based instruction and are directly linked to many of the Common Core State Standards for ELA, Science, and Social Studies. By Laurie Fickman 713-743-8454. Please wait while we process your payment. Rebecca's depiction of Deborah is nuanced and masterful. Since everybody benefits, everybody can accept the small risks of having their tissue scraps used in research. However, in a profit-driven health care system, all citizens do not have equal access to the treatments and medications made possible by tissue and cell research. Chapter Seven: The Death and Life of Cell Culture 1. What did they want Joe to do? He handed Deborah a vial of HeLa cells, which Deborah kissed. 7. What did HeLa allow scientists to do for the first time? Where They Are Now/Afterword 1. 4. The conference is suddenly canceled after September 11, with no plans to reschedule. The Biblical language also gives the Lacks family a sense of meaning for understanding what happened to Henrietta and what continues to happen to them. Dr. George Gey head of tissue-culture research at Johns Hopkins. She is not always an easy person to be friends with - she is paranoid and somewhat impulsive, even once becoming physically violent with Rebecca. 6. What obstacles does she mention as impeding her understanding? What does Hsus request reveal about her attitude towards the Lackses? What does Zakariyya believe about his birth? Deborah's case of hives worsens as she and Rebecca get closer to Clover. 4. What does Zakariyya blame on Henriettas cancer cells? About the Guide The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks contains three main narratives, each with unique applications to the disciplines of language arts, history, and science. 5. She supported Henrietta duringher illness. This fact is emphasized when Sonny undergoes emergency surgery and wakes up thousands of dollars in debt because he cannot afford health insurance. Chapter Nineteen: The Most Critical Time on This Earth is Now 1. 6. Chapter Twenty-Five: Who Told You You Could Sell My Spleen? 1. What did Gartler suggest about spontaneous transformation? Why didnt his surgeons honor his request? By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Explore the importance of both religious faith and scientific understanding in the lives of the Lacks family. This section became known as Lacks Town.Alfred Cheetah CarterDeborahs first husband. Shortly after, Deborah has a stroke in church, and is saved by the ingenuity of her grandson Davon. As she lay on the operating table, a sample of her cancerous cervical tissue was taken without her knowledge or consent and given to Dr. George Gey, the head of tissue research. 11. Who profited monetarily from the sale of HeLa cells and other human biological materials? Why were the hospitals medical records from the 1950s and earlier disposed of? Chapter 32. 3. Analyze the note that Joe wrote to the judge. The photograph, in contrast to Elsies childhood photos, was horrific, and showed that Elsie clearly suffered neglect. Analyze Johns Hopkinss official response to Wyches letter. Are scientists able to definitively explain why HeLa grew so powerfully? Slavin founded Essential Biologicals, a company that sold his cells, and later cells from other people so individuals could profit from their own biological materials.Timeline1889 Johns Hopkins Hospital is founded.1912 Alexis Carrel claims to have successfully grown immortal chicken-heart cells.1920 Henrietta Lacks is born in Roanoke, Virginia.1947 The Nuremberg Code, a set of ethical standards for human experimentation, is produced as the result of a trial against several Nazi doctors who conducted experiments on prisoners during WWII.1951 George Gey successfully cultures the first immortal human cell line using cells from Henriettas cervix. What does this gift tell you about Deborahs feelings about her family? What string of events in 2009 suggests that, if Skloot had not begun researching Henriettas story a decade earlier, it may have been lost forever? Where did Southam find test subjects for his second research study? "Which of these sentences" means that you have been provided with answer choices for your question. How did her reaction evolve after she had a chance to dwell on the picture and process the disturbing information that she had been given? How does Skloot proceed with her research when it becomes clear that Sonny Lacks is not going to meet with her? How did her doctors react to Henriettas intuitive conviction that the cancer was spreading inside of her? Also, there were many scientific experiments done without patient consent, including particularly gruesome experiments conducted on children with epilepsy. 9. Describe the changes that had taken place in the lives of Henriettas children by 1980. WebThe hospital conducted pneumoencephalography on epileptic children, and Elsie likely would have been included. Just for joining youll get personalized recommendations on your dashboard daily and features only for members. Lurz had informed them the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis had any surviving records that werent on the Crownsville, MD hospital grounds, and Deborah was keen to go there immediately (despite Skloots gentle probing of her emotional state). What facts about George Geys life support the assertion that he never personally profited from the development of HeLa? Why are HeLa cells able to live beyond the Hayflick limit? Deborah says she's going to bed, but then continues to check on Rebecca every few minutes, making up increasingly bizarre excuses each time. What is the Lacks familys biggest complaint about the way they have been treated by Johns Hopkins and Dr. Gey? 7. Deborah and Zakariyya were shocked to hear Lengauer admit that Johns Hopkins had made a mistake in their treatment of the Lacks family. for a customized plan. Do you believe Gey was disrespectful? 6. Determine an authors point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness or beauty of the text. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Explain the various ways in which both the scientific community and the media are guilty of having viewed Henrietta and her family as abstractions. What was the purpose of President Nixons National Cancer Act? 3. The author uses several similes to describe cells. Explain your answer. 4. Analyze the significance of chapter and section breaks in the book. 3. More books than SparkNotes. Zakariyya is quiet for much of the visit, but he thanks Lengauer and Rebecca before he leaves. Why do you think Deborah tells Skloot that she just witnessed a miracle? According to State Attorney General Louis Lefkowitz, what do people have an inalienable right to? 4. 6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is her first book. For further information, click here for Dayle Delanceys article, which begins on page three. 8. 5. WebHenrietta Lacks by foregrounding Elsie, whose absent presence appears in only twelve to fifteen pages of the entire book, even though her story offers a powerful indictment of the Teachers and parents! Do you agree that Henrietta should have been correctly identified in order to give her the fame she so richly deserves, or do you think her anonymity should have been protected? She and Henrietta sometimes sneaked out to go dancing. Explain your answers. This section is known as Lacks Town. 2. 3. quarterly journal African American Review promotes a lively exchange What was Henriettas final request? Deborah laughs and says she will. While the hospital has closed, it too was surrounded by supernatural rumors. What is ironic about his participation in these studies? How does Deborah respond when Skloot suggests photocopying some of Henriettas records? 9. 14. Chapter Thirty: Zakariyya 1. 7. 7. Review the notes on Henriettas medical history found on page 16. It was also reported she was epileptic, as well as suffering from neural syphilis. She also explores the birth and life of the immortal cell line HeLa, and shows how research involving HeLa has changed the landscape of medical research, leading to not only scientific and medical breakthroughs, but also new and evolving policies concerning the rights of patients and research subjects. Compare the differences between irresponsible and responsible reporting on HeLa and the Lacks family. In May 2001, Deborah, Zakariyya, and Rebecca head to Lengauer's lab. What can you infer about her personality based on this behavior? Chapter Thirteen: The HeLa Factory 1. This is where youll see your current point status and your earned rewards. 9. Deborah submitted a request to have copies made of Elsie Lacks medical records, and Lurz left Skloot and Deborah with some archival documents to look through while he made the copies. Examine pages 5 and 6 and write down each step that Skloot took to begin her research. Through the microscope, Deborah and Zakariyya watch their mother's cells divide in culture. Her favorite genres are memoirs, public health, and locked room mysteries. Chapter Twenty-Three: Its Alive 1. Contrast the working conditions of black workers and white workers at the Sparrows Point Steel Mill. 2. A 1958 article from the Washington Post revealed that Crownsville, MD in the 50s was more awful than Skloot and Deborah had imagined. She and Henrietta sometimes sneaked out to go dancing. He carefully explains the process of cell division, and explains that all the information that made Henrietta herself is contained within these cells, in their DNA. 3. What do you think Cofield did? What illness did Cootie have as a child? 3. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. 11. Gary explains that he believes Henrietta's cells are her, that God has given her immortal life as promised by Jesus in the Bible. Although most of Crownsvilles medical records from between 1910 and the late fifties had been destroyedthe documents had become contaminated with asbestosLurz had saved some clothbound books full of autopsy reports. Describe Skloots visit to the Lacks family cemetery. The Best Books to Get Your Finances in Order, Books Based on Your Favorite Taylor Swift Era, Cook a Soul Food Holiday Meal With Rosie Mayes. What do the contents of the apartment tell you about his life and personality? Why do you think they were willing to sacrifice to help her? What unusual characteristics of HeLa cells made them ideal for use in the polio vaccine trials? Describe the progression of Henriettas cancer in the eight months between her diagnosis and her death. 8. How did the development of HeLa cells change the way research could be conducted? What happened when the family started to bury Henriettas body? Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Why didnt Deborah go through with her plan to kill Cheetah? Summarize Garys spiritual explanation for why Henriettas cells lived on after her death. Were cells taken only from black patients? Do you think Zakariyya should be the one to have this object? 3. WebSir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield. How did TeLinde hope to prove that his hypothesis about cervical cancer was correct? Why do you think Pattillo agreed to help Skloot contact Henriettas family? 9. Deborah shifts between joy at finding out new information about her mother and panic at each new fact. David Jr. Sonny Lacks Henrietta and Days third child, Deborah Dale Lacks Henrietta and Days fourth child. When Henriettas story first appeared in the mainstream media in 1976, many viewed it as one of race and racism. How can you tell that Elsies photograph and autopsy are deeply troubling to Deborah? WebShe learned from her mother's medical records that her sister had been placed at Crownsville. Want to know what people are actually reading right now? Henrietta tells the rest of her family about her illness. interviews; poetry; fiction; and book reviews. WebIt's also a search for the right people to love. What does Skloot reveal by ending the chapter with Hsus request? Why did a committee of scientists form the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)? This section became known as Lacks Town.Alfred Cheetah CarterDeborahs first husband. Deborah is devastated by the knowledge that her sister probably died alone and in pain, but tries to keep a brave face despite being near tears. Why was the development of methods of freezing cells an important scientific breakthrough?