Coffee and Books

Come join the discussion led by Erin Dagenais, Community Engagement & Reference Librarian with the Winchester Public Library. This month’s read is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. Although a poor Southern tobacco farmer, her cells--taken without her knowledge--were used to develop the polio vaccine, uncover secrets of cancer/viruses, and advance in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping.  The first "immortal" human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. This story is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control our own cells. Discussion will include interesting details about the author, the setting, and the story. All are welcome! Register to obtain the Zoom link.