Final answer:
As of 2023, Henrietta Lacks' cells, or HeLa cells, have been reproducing for over 70 years since their collection in 1951, and have made significant impacts on medical research despite ethical controversies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henerietta Lacks' cells, known as HeLa cells, are over 70 years old as of 2023. These cells were obtained from Lacks' cervical cancer tissue in 1951 and have since been replicating outside her body. The HeLa cells have contributed significantly to scientific research and medical breakthroughs, including the creation of the polio vaccine and advances in cancer, AIDS, and COVID-19 research. Despite their widespread use in the scientific community, the collection of these cells raised serious bioethical questions, as they were harvested without Henrietta's consent and her family did not initially benefit from their commercial use.