Clarendon students get bio lesson from Claflin professors

Claflin University professors held an event to educate students on the history of Henrietta Lacks and the biology of "HeLa" cells, which have affected the medical field for more than 70 years. High school students throughout Clarendon County School District were invited to participate. More than 130 students from Manning High School and Scott's Branch High School, where the event was held, filled the gymnasium for a lesson that coincided with state-mandated biology standards. Students began the morning watching "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and had a discussion with Claflin biology professors Dr. Samina N. Assanie-Shivji, NIH-NIGMS: U-RISE principal investigator, and Dr. Gloria Sanders McCutcheon, chair and professor of biology.

"Many of the student participants had never heard of Henrietta Lacks nor her cells' impact on the world. In addition to addressing many of the Biology I standards associated with science and engineering practices and the cell, the event provided students from both schools the opportunity to see great things can be accomplished when CCSD schools work together," said LaTasha Henry-Pugh, Scott's Branch Middle School science department chair. "Additionally, McCutcheon's acknowledgment of the accomplishments of past CCSD students that have matriculated through the biology department at Claflin opened students' minds to possibilities of future collaborations between students from different high schools in post-secondary outcomes."