The Energy Molecule and Cellular Respiration
Henrietta Lacks (1920–1951), who was from Roanoke, Virginia, died of cervical cancer at age thirty-one. Upon her death, doctors discovered that cells from her body lived long lives and reproduced indefinitely in petri dishes.
These “immortal” HeLa cells have since contributed to over 10,000 medical patents relating to polio, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, and other conditions. Considering the history of medical testing on African Americans without their consent, the fate of Lacks’s cells raises questions about ethics, privacy, and race. By addressing these issues forthrightly in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2010), author Rebecca Skloot prompted Oprah Winfrey and HBO to make a film on the subject. Award-winning artist, author, and illustrator Kadir Nelson uses visual elements to convey Lacks’s legacy. The wallpaper features the “Flower of Life,” a symbol of immortality. The pattern of her dress recalls cellular structures, and the garment’s missing buttons signal the absence of those cells that were taken from her body, without permission.
Title: Henrietta Lacks (HeLa): The Mother of Modern Medicine
Creator: Kadir Nelson
Date Created: 2017
Location Created: Los Angeles, CA
Physical Dimensions: 151.1 × 125.7 cm (59 1/2 × 49 1/2")
Cellular respiration is the process in which cells generate the energy molecule ATP.
We started the lesson with an experiment demonstrating this process. Yeast and sugar were mixed together in a cup, and then some of this solution was added to a vial with a balloon attached. The students discussed their observations and how each step of cellular respiration was contributing to each observation. The students then learned about the electron transport chain through a video breaking down each step in the respiratory chain. We ended with a final experiment to visualize the ETC in action, and will finish this discussion next lesson.
As a note, please make sure to have all necessary ingredients (including the fruits) for our next lesson on 06/07.