PULLMAN, Wash. – Nearly a half century ago, a University of Washington cell and molecular biologist/human geneticist discovered that cell lines thought to be unique had instead been contaminated by an immortal cell line called HeLa.
Stanley M. Gartler’s work unsettled the scientific community, which widely used HeLa cells. Dissemination of his results also raised awareness of cultural and social issues, as documented in the book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” by science writer Rebecca Skloot, published in 2010.
The book is Washington State University’s common reading for new students this year, and Gartler will present a free, public lecture at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, in the CUB junior ballroom as the guest of the Common Reading Program and School of Molecular Biosciences.
“This is an invaluable opportunity for students to listen to the scientist who, as Skloot writes, delivered ‘the HeLa Bomb’ to the research community and impacted lab methodology forever,” said Karen Weathermon, co-director of WSU common reading.
His discovery that HeLa cells were contaminating other cell cultures presented some “obvious problems” to the research community, said Gartler, UW professor emeritus of medicine and genome sciences. “Back in the ‘60s, there were no fancy tools in labs to show that cultures had been mixed up.
“But cell contamination still goes on today, which is puzzling to me when it’s so easy to check for that by looking at the DNA,” he said.
The book describes how cervical cancer cells were taken from Lacks without her knowledge prior to her death at 31 in 1951 for use in scientific research. The cells proved to be prolific multipliers and have been used in any number of scientific and medical applications, including creation of the polio vaccine.
Neither Lacks nor her family received economic benefits from the use of her cells. The book raises issues about racism, scientific ethics, poverty and cancer, among others.
Gartler, 89, said he no longer teaches but does go to UW’s genome lab every day, where he enjoys working with younger researchers and students. He enjoys speaking to different types of audiences about topics in Skloot’s bookwhich he reviewed prior to its publicationincluding HeLa cells, cell contamination and many of the social and cultural issues raised in the book.
Topics Gartler is expected to touch upon at WSU include his research, who owns human tissue once it’s no longer part of its original body, what is fair compensation for such tissue, and the story Skloot tells in her book. His thoughts, he said, may surprise some listeners.
“We are honored and pleased that his friend and colleague Terry Hassold, in the WSU School of Molecular Biosciences, was able to arrange Dr. Gartler’s visit to WSU,” said Weathermon.
The WSU Common Reading Program is in its sixth year. Throughout the year, faculty and other guest experts make presentations to students and the community that tie topics from the year’s book to their area of expertise.
The final guest lecturer this semester will be Patricia Heberer, historian at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. She will present “Giving a Face to Faceless Victims: Profiles of Disabled Victims of the Nazi ‘Euthanasia’ Program” at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, in Todd 116.
The event is sponsored by the Common Reading Program in the University College; the Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences; and the Campus Outreach Lecture Program of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, supported by the generosity of Alan Solomon, M.D. WSU Professor C. Richard King, comparative ethnic studies, helped arrange Heberer’s visit. King did research at the museum last summer.
For more information, and for spring lecture plans, please visit http://CommonReading.wsu.edu.