Henrietta Lacks vocabulary

Tumor

• A type of benign growth that is always harmless.

• An abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells grow and divide more than they should or do not die when they should.

• A normal part of the body's healing process.

• A type of cancer that only occurs in older adults.

Bioethics

• The study of ethical issues emerging from advances in biology and medicine.

• A branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of existence.

• The application of mathematical principles to biological systems.

• The examination of historical medical practices and their ethical implications.

malignant

• Means good or beneficial

• Means bad or harmful

• Means neutral or indifferent

• Means temporary or transient

fundamental

• forming a necessary base or core

• of secondary importance

• not essential

• a minor detail

HeLa cells

• A type of bacteria used in genetic research.

• An immortal cell line derived from cervical cancer cells taken from Henrietta Lacks, used extensively in medical research.

• A vaccine developed from human cells.

• A type of stem cell used in regenerative medicine.

Tissue culture

• The process of growing plants in soil.

• The growth of tissues or cells in an artificial medium separate from the parent organism.

• A method of cloning animals using their cells.

• The study of plant diseases in a laboratory setting.

Polo Virus

• A disease that can cause flu-like symptoms, brain inflammation, and paralysis.

• A viral infection that primarily affects the respiratory system.

• A bacterial infection leading to severe gastrointestinal issues.

• A chronic condition that affects the liver and causes jaundice.

Uterus

• The organ in the lower body of a woman where offspring are conceived and gestate before birth; the womb.

• A muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach.

• The part of the female reproductive system where eggs are produced.

• An organ that filters blood and produces urine.

Diagnosis

• The process of treating an illness or injury.

• The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.

• A method of preventing diseases before they occur.

• The study of the causes and effects of diseases.

Skeptical

• easily convinced; having no doubts

• not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations

• always trusting; believing everything

• open-minded; willing to consider new ideas