HeLa cells contributed to the medical field in so many ways. When it came to researching more on the HIV virus and the AIDS epidemic, some scientists decided to use HeLa cells as a source of research. Richard Axel, a scientist, "infected HeLa cells with HIV" (Skloot, 2010, p.214). HIV can infect only on blood cells, but Axel decided to take a specific DNA sequence from a blood cell and insert it into HeLa cells. This made it possible for HIV to infect them as well. This was a huge steppingstone for the research on the AIDS/HIV epidemic. This experimentation allowed the scientists to figure out what was required for HIV to infect a cell. It helped them understand the virus and potentially stopping it as well. This experimentation seemed to be unethical and morally wrong by others. Jeremy Rifkin, an author and activist, wanted to halt Axel's research. Jeremy and other scientists believed that DNA manipulation was dangerous. Jeremy argued that HeLa cells with HIV could effect other cells and expose the other researchers to HIV. But in the end, Jeremy arguments were set aside. Axel became to be known by many scientists because of his research and his contribution to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This has been a landmark moment in the HeLa research.
As Lesley stated, Jeremy Rifkin was strictly against infecting HeLa cells with the HIV virus because he was afraid that this would cause other cells to get infected and expose lab researchers around to the world to HIV. Rifkin also said that this would cause the virus’ host range to increase leading to “the further hazardous dissemination of the AIDS virus genome” (Skloot, 2010, p. 215). However Richard Axel fired back that cells could not grow out of tissue cultures and there is a huge difference between cell culture contamination and HIV infection. Axel ridiculed Rifkin’s statements by called them “the plot of a grade-B horror movie” (Skloot, 2010, p. 215). Axel went on to using HeLa cells for HIV research after Jeremy Rifkin’s case was dismissed.
HeLa cells contributed to the medical field in so many ways. When it came to researching more on the HIV virus and the AIDS epidemic, some scientists decided to use HeLa cells as a source of research. Richard Axel, a scientist, "infected HeLa cells with HIV" (Skloot, 2010, p.214). HIV can infect only on blood cells, but Axel decided to take a specific DNA sequence from a blood cell and insert it into HeLa cells. This made it possible for HIV to infect them as well. This was a huge steppingstone for the research on the AIDS/HIV epidemic. This experimentation allowed the scientists to figure out what was required for HIV to infect a cell. It helped them understand the virus and potentially stopping it as well. This experimentation seemed to be unethical and morally wrong by others. Jeremy Rifkin, an author and activist, wanted to halt Axel's research. Jeremy and other scientists believed that DNA manipulation was dangerous. Jeremy argued that HeLa cells with HIV could effect other cells and expose the other researchers to HIV. But in the end, Jeremy arguments were set aside. Axel became to be known by many scientists because of his research and his contribution to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This has been a landmark moment in the HeLa research.
ReplyDeleteAs Lesley stated, Jeremy Rifkin was strictly against infecting HeLa cells with the HIV virus because he was afraid that this would cause other cells to get infected and expose lab researchers around to the world to HIV. Rifkin also said that this would cause the virus’ host range to increase leading to “the further hazardous dissemination of the AIDS virus genome” (Skloot, 2010, p. 215). However Richard Axel fired back that cells could not grow out of tissue cultures and there is a huge difference between cell culture contamination and HIV infection. Axel ridiculed Rifkin’s statements by called them “the plot of a grade-B horror movie” (Skloot, 2010, p. 215). Axel went on to using HeLa cells for HIV research after Jeremy Rifkin’s case was dismissed.
Delete