通常情况下，人类细胞培养物在经历一个称为衰老的过程之后的几次细胞分裂后几天内死亡。 这对研究人员提出了一个问题，因为使用正常细胞的实验不能在相同细胞（克隆）上重复进行，也不能将相同细胞用于扩展研究。 细胞生物学家George Otto Gey从Henrietta Lack的样品中取出一个细胞，使细胞分裂，发现如果给予营养物质和合适的环境，培养物会无限期存活下来。 原始细胞继续变异。 现在，有许多HeLa菌株都来源于同一个单细胞。 研究人员认为，HeLa细胞不会遭受程序性死亡的原因是因为他们维持了一种阻止染色体端粒逐渐缩短的酶端粒酶。
加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚大学Biology Assignment代写：HeLa细胞是什么以及它们为什么重要
Normally, human cell cultures die within a few days after a set number of cell divisions via a process called senescence. This presents a problem for researchers because experiments using normal cells cannot be repeated on identical cells (clones), nor can the same cells be used for extended study. Cell biologist George Otto Gey took one cell from Henrietta Lack’s sample, allowed that cell to divide, and found the culture survived indefinitely if given nutrients and a suitable environment. The original cells continued to mutate. Now, there are many strains of HeLa, all derived from the same single cell. Researchers believe the reason HeLa cells don’t suffer programmed death is because they maintain a version of the enzyme telomerase that prevents gradual shortening of the telomeres of chromosomes.