Science Homework Help

This discussion is broken down into 3 parts.  Your response should address all 3 parts in one single post.

Background: 

In 1976, John Moore was treated in a hospital in California for a rare type of leukemia (a condition in which white blood cells become cancerous and grow at an advanced rate).  Moore was treated, his spleen was removed, and his leukemia went into remission.  He periodically returned to California to have blood drawn, which he thought was part of his treatment.  Moore signed a consent form to allow the doctors to conduct research on his cells.  The doctors discovered that Moore’s cells produced a unique protein that could be used to treat certain types of cancer.  Using genetic engineering, the doctors produced a pharmaceutical product with promising medical uses and high commercial profit.   The doctors sold the product to a company that would investigate and market the product.  Moore was never informed about the use of his cells or their potential commercial value.  Moore filed a lawsuit, charging that he did not give informed consent to use his “property” because the doctors did not provide enough information needed to make informed consent (they did not tell him that they may sell products retrieved from his cells).  In addition, because of the lack of informed consent, Moore argued that his relationship with his physician was breached.

1. Research a similar case – that of Henrietta Lacks (use any search engine with keywords “HeLa cells” or “Henrietta Lacks”). These cells were the first to be bought and sold, and have generated billions of dollars. Briefly explain what these cells are, where they came from, what they have been used for, and why their “ownership” has created controversy (concisely summarize your research findings, don’t copy and paste huge chunks of information from websites). 
2. In cases like these, should the doctors/researchers monetarily compensate the Moore family/Lacks family? Make an argument as to why or why not.
3. Do we own our DNA like property?  For example, if you have a tooth pulled or your appendix removed, and the surgeons keep your tissue, should you be compensated if they make a profit off of the research they perform?