Henrietta Lacks - Study Guide Part II (Chapters 7 – 12)

Chapter 7

1. Describe George Gey’s methods for shipping HeLa cells around the world in early days.



2. Despite the spread of HeLa and the flurry of new research, what (2) important factors were
omitted?





3. Who is Alexis Carrel and what did he claim to have accomplished?



4. Name three things that tarnished Alexis Carrel’s reputation.





5. What affect did Carrel’s work have on the HeLa cells?





Chapter 8

1. What did the doctor tell Henrietta when she returned to the hospital complaining of discomfort?



2. What is “benevolent deception” and why did doctors believe in it at the time of Henrietta’s
treatment?



3. When did the doctors finally realize that Henrietta’s cancer had returned?



4. What were some of the drugs used to help alleviate Henrietta’s pain?



5. What were some of the other symptoms Henrietta experienced other than acute pain?



Chapter 9

1. What were Skloot’s plans in Turner Station and who was her contact?



2. What did Skloot do to pass the time while she waited to hear from her contact?





3. What two things did the writer of the 1976 Rolling Stone article have in common with Skloot?





4. What was Henrietta’s Turner Station address?



5. Describe Speed Grocery?



6. What happened to Turner Station in the years since Henrietta’s death?





7. Explain why Courtney Speed has so many children?



8. Why would Courtney Speed not answer Skloot’s questions about Cofield?



9. What happened when Courtney Speed tried to establish a Henrietta Lacks museum?



10. Why did Courtney take Skloot to the library?



11. What did Skloot decided she should do after watching the video about Henrietta Lacks?







Chapter 10

1. Describe the town of Clover when Skloot visited.





2. What was the only steady business left in Clover?





3. Where was Lacks Town located and describe it.



4. Who helped Skloot find Lacks Town and how had he made a living there?



5. What was unusual about the building of Cootie’s house?



6. What are the two theories Cootie has about what caused Henrietta’s cancer?







Chapter 11

1. Describe Henrietta’s medical condition in September of 1951.





2. Why did Emmett Lacks and several other men decide to donate blood at Johns Hopkins?





3. What was Henrietta’s last request and to whom did she make the request?