Dr. George Otto Gey, who received the cell sample, discovered that the cells were able to continue living and could be reproduced. This was unique at the time, with cultured cells normally dying within days of being extracted. Scientists working on cures for diseases would spend most of the time trying to keep their sample cells alive instead of researching a cure.
Dr. Gey was able to isolate the specific cells that continued to live and created the "immortalised cell" line named HeLa. This cell line was to become one of the most famous because of its use in developing the vaccine for Polio. The cells have further been used in research for cancer, gene mapping, in vitro fertilisation as well as to test for the effect of cosmetics and other products on human cells.
The Lacks family were unaware of the use of their descendants cells, only discovering the fact later in the 1970's when family members started getting calls from researchers enquiring about Henrietta's history.
To date over 20 tons of cells have been produced and over 11,000 patents are registered based on research done with the HeLa cell line.
