A Tale of Immortal Cells
Approximately a dozen students participated in a DNA extraction event on Thursday, Oct. 1 in the Betty Sue Jessup Library. The event was part the One Book Project.
This semester’s One Book selection, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, speaks of an anomaly regarding the cells of Henrietta Lacks, a woman who died of cervical cancer in 1951. The irregularity consisted of her cells, along with her DNA, replicating and thriving for decades after her death.
“Henrietta Lacks’ cells changed the face of modern medicine and will continue to improve our knowledge of medicine and to provide therapies and cures for many conditions that plague the human race. This fact is amazing in itself, but the book goes beyond this to reveal a human dimension that is both poignant and inspiring,” said Laura Skinner, the PVCC Reference and Instruction Librarian.
Skinner played a key role in organizing the DNA extraction event to celebrate this semester’s One Book Project. Laura Bowden, a reference employee in the library, explained the extraction process with both a verbal walkthrough, a handout and a video from PBS.
Bowden explained the process and the lab precautions, after which Skinner, Bowden and Assistant Professor of English Tamara Whyte handed out vinyl gloves and goggles for the students. Bowden explained the importance of the safety gear. She followed the precautions by also stating, “Some of the materials will go in your mouths.” That particular material wound up being salt water. Bowden expressly warned against drinking any of the isopropyl alcohol. The riskier materials came into play after the DNA had left the bodies.
Part of the process involved soap, rubbing alcohol and food coloring after the DNA extraction. Students extracted the initial DNA by swishing salt water in their mouths for a minute and then spitting it out into cups.
The other materials proved useful in separating the actual DNA strands from the salt water solution. Skinner, Whyte and Bowden walked students through the entire process in a light-hearted manner that echoed the overall feel of the event.
The entire process took around an hour, but with such warm atmosphere, few of the participants appeared to be in any hurry to leave. This highly anticipated event lasted well into another hour. Students left with DNA in hand and smiles on their faces.
