This lesson explores the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, a black woman born in 1920. Her cancer cells, removed from her body without her permission, were used to develop cures for diseases such as polio. It is estimated that her cells, because of their unique characteristic of replicating outside the body, have been used in labs around the world for decades. It is estimated that Ms. Lacks’ cells have saved millions of lives. The question students will explore in this lesson is the morality and ethics of this legacy. Do the needs of the many outway the rights of an individual?