Scientists took cells from Henrietta Lacks ' cancerous cervical tumor in 1951 . Those cells , called HeLa cells , have been used in many scientific discoveries . They were the first to show that cancer is caused by a virus and not just an infection. so people know what they 're getting into when they donate . Advances in technology have left a gaping hole in privacy protections for patients .
Scientists took cells from Henrietta Lacks ' cancerous cervical tumor in 1951 . Those cells , called HeLa cells , have been used in many scientific discoveries . They were the first to show that cancer is caused by a virus and not just an infection. Advances in technology have left a gaping hole in privacy protections for patients .