BOOK REVIEW
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS BY REBECCA SKLOOT (NOV/DEC 2013)
When something is taken from you without permission you have been robbed. Should the same concept apply to something more personal than our passwords to our bank accounts- our cells? This question is embedded into Rebecca Skloot's book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Skloot’s book ,a regular on the required reading lists of many colleges, explores so many themes it would take years to discuss them in full. It is rich in content and meaning and, has caused almost a turf war between hundreds of different people fighting about their views. The book is made intriguing by the way it brings science down to earth. The most interesting parts are not about the cells themselves, but how they changed the lives of the characters. Its often hard to see the effects of science in our lives but the book shows the drastic effects of science on the lives of others. HeLa cells are the “immortalized” cancer cells of Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta was an African American living in Baltimore in the first half of the twentieth century. She went for treatment of her cancer at John Hopkins hospital. Her cancer was so bad it was incurable. After months of radiation Henrietta Lacks died, but shortly before her death George Gey a researcher took her cells without her permission. He put the cancer cells in a culture medium and they kept growing and expanding, in effect becoming immortal. They are still growing and expanding today, and are bought and sold for research purposes Skloot writes about the Lacks family, and chronicles the lives of Henrietta’s children and husband. Although many of Henrietta’s cells have been profited off of the some of the Lacks family lives in poverty, and at points go without health insurance. Their anger towards science is understandable and it has fueled the anger of others. The sadness and importance of the story is why you should read it, and although it casts a dark shadow on medicine. I can understand the Lacks’ reactions and believe it is important to discuss them the many angles of this story. In 1950 stealing someone’s cells was not illegal but today the courts might decide differently.
-Peter Smith
-Peter Smith
LETTERS TO A YOUNG SCIENTIST BY E.O WILSON (Sept/Oct 2013)
|
Letters to A Young Scientist, by E.O Wilson- Letters to a young Scientist was a fantastic book about pursuing a career in science. The book written by famous Harvard Entomologist ( scientist who studies insects) E.O Wilson, chronicles his successful rise in science. He stresses that young scientists who are not experts in math can still be successful in a scientific career as creativity and ingenuity are key to being successful in science. Although the book provides valuable information for launching a scientific career it is mainly aimed at a young biologist as opposed to someone who is interested in another field of science. However the book is an interesting read in general even if you do not hope to be a biologist or a scientist at all. It is mostly a memoir on E.O Wilson’s career and things he has noticed along it. It’s not very clear what audience Wilson is trying to reach however its a good read for a 5th grader, 8th grader, college student, or adult.
-Peter Smith |