Answer:
HeLa cells contain rare traits that make them invaluable to scientific research. Research into the Lacks family may provide insight into this mutation and cell proliferation.
Step-by-step explanation:
HeLa cells have a controversial origin, rooted in ethical breaches. They were derived from a non-consenting, female African-American donor patient, Henrietta Lacks who was terminally ill with a form of cervical cancer. These particular cells have a remarkably short period of proliferation, due to their active telomerase.
During cell division, these telomoerases were found to make repeat copies of the cell's telomere, and the cells can divide an unlimited number of times in lab cell cultures- a very rare occurrence. They were later commercialized- HeLa cells are durable, robust and commonly used in cancer cell research.