Final answer:
Cancer cells have lost normal cellular functions and characteristics, including control of growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. HeLa cells are crucial to science because they were the first human cells cloned and have been used in numerous medical studies and discoveries.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we talk about the things that cancer cells have lost, we are referring to the loss of normal cellular functions and characteristics. Cancer cells have lost the ability to control their growth and proliferation, resulting in uncontrolled cell division. They have also lost their ability to differentiate into specialized cell types, leading to the formation of tumors. Additionally, cancer cells have lost their ability to undergo programmed cell death, known as apoptosis, which allows them to evade the body's natural defense mechanisms.
HeLa cells are incredibly important to science for several reasons. First, they were the first human cells ever cloned and their genes were some of the first ever mapped. HeLa cells have been used in numerous studies and have contributed to significant medical advances. For example, they were used by Jonas Salk to test the polio vaccine and have been instrumental in the study of cancer, AIDS, and other diseases. HeLa cells have also been used to understand the effects of zero gravity on human cells in space missions.