An analysis of contaminated literature finds that tens of thousands of papers used cell lines of questionable origins—and these were in turn cited by hundreds of thousands of other papers.

Family members of Lacks, the donor behind the widely used HeLa cell line, are planning to sue Johns Hopkins University.

She will also be an executive producer on the HBO Films project, which is based on a 2010 book about the life of Henrietta Lacks.

Despite known problems with contamination and mislabeled cell lines, most researchers continue to operate without authenticating cells’ identity.

More than 50 years after cross-contamination of cultured cell lines was recognized, the problem continues to plague the scientific community.

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How the US government impacted life science research in 2013

A working group including members of the Lacks family approves the first projects to use the HeLa genome.

Flu researchers propose H7N9 studies; NIH makes deal to share HeLa genome; herbal “remedies” can cause cancer; scientists record grid cell activity in humans

Officials at the government agency hammer out an agreement with the Lacks family to provide restricted access to genomes of their relative’s unwittingly donated cells.