The oldest cell line in the world is HeLa, an immortalized human cell line. It was derived from cervical cancer cells taken from Henrietta Lacks, a Black American woman, in 1951. HeLa cells are used extensively in scientific research because they are the first human cell line to be successfully grown in culture and have been shown to be remarkably robust and adaptable.
While HeLa is the oldest human cell line, the oldest cells on Earth are prokaryotes, single-celled organisms without a nucleus. Fossil evidence indicates that prokaryotes appeared on Earth between 3.5 and 3.8 billion years ago, making them the first inhabitants of our planet.
It is important to note that individual cells do not have a definitive lifespan. However, HeLa cells are considered the oldest continuously cultivated cell line, making them a significant landmark in scientific history.
