The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks — Vocabulary
Rebecca Skloot
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	39	top 2000
virusa tiny organism that causes disease The common cold is caused by a virus.more Show sample from book essentially reprogramming the cell so it reproduces the virus instead of itself.38 more Show general definition for virus (as in: Covid 19 virus) a tiny infectious agent that causes disease by invading living cells and using them to make more copies of itself Show editor's word notes Although viruses contain genetic material, they can only reproduce by hijacking the reproductive machinery of a cell they invade.
	25
radiationparticles emitted by radioactive atoms Scientists use Geiger counters to measure radiation emitted by radioactive materials.more Show sample from book "Those mistakes can happen when you get exposed to chemicals or radiation," Christoph said.24 more particles emitted by nuclear decay Show general definition for radiation (as in: nuclear radiation) particles emitted by unstable atomic nuclei Show editor's word notes Generally, radiation is discussed in terms of harmful levels of radiation that cause sickness. However, there is a normal level of radiation that is not harmful and sometimes radiation is carefully used for beneficial purposes such as medical treatments that use it to kill cancer cells.
	6	top 100
howeverdespite that (a transition word use to connect contrasting ideas) Most college application deadlines are in January and February. However, early admission deadlines are around November and some scholarships require even earlier deadlines.more Show sample from book However, I do believe that in the kind of article I am projecting there would be complete protection of the rights of all individuals.6 more a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc. Show general definition for however (as in: However, complications may...) though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas) Show editor's word notes Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
	1	top 2000
however#2in whatever way However we do it, someone is going to be unhappy.more Show sample from book "The patient states that she feels fairly well," one doctor wrote in her chart, "however she continues to complain of some vague lower abdominal discomfort."6 more Show general definition for however (as in: However you do it, get it done!) in whatever way
	18
polioa viral disease that causes paralysis Polio paralyzed and killed thousands of Americans a year before vaccination began in 1955.more Show sample from book But they don't never explain more than just sayin, Yeah, your mother was on the moon, she been in nuclear bombs and made that polio vaccine.†17 more viral disease that causes muscle paralysis Show general definition a viral disease that can cause paralysis and sometimes death
	4	top 100
establishestablish → established:created Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?more Show sample from book On March 9, 1973, the journal Nature published a letter from J. Douglas, a biologist at Brunel University: It is twenty-one years since George Gey established the famous HeLa cells in culture.4 more Show general definition for establish (as in: establish a positive tone) create, start, or set in [a] place
	1	top 100
establish#2establish → establishing:showing or demonstrating The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.more Show sample from book There, lawyers could use the Nuremberg Code to establish whether a scientist was acting within the ethical boundaries of the profession.4 more determine (figure out) Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
	13	top 1000
nucleusthe center (in this case, key central members) They have the nucleus of a good team.†more Show sample from book But they don't never explain more than just sayin, Yeah, your mother was on the moon, she been in nuclear bombs and made that polio vaccine.†12 more nucleus → nuclear:relating to the central or most important part of something Show general definition the center (or most important part) of something such as: in physics: the center of an atom where protons & neutrons are found in biology: the center of a cell where DNA is found in sociology: the closest family (mother/father/children in contrast to the extended family)
	9	top 100
passagea short part of a longer written work Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.more Show sample from book Gary flipped to another passage for me to read: "Someone will ask, 'How can the dead be raised to life?'"8 more Show general definition for passage (as in: In lines 1-9 of the passage...) a short part of a longer written work Show editor's word notes This meaning of passage is commonly seen on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.
	15
malignantharmful or evil The malignant influence of the corrupt politician spread throughout the city, damaging trust and services.more Show sample from book Gey and his wife, Margaret, had spent the last three decades working to grow malignant cells outside the body, hoping to use them to find cancer's cause and cure.14 more growing in a harmful, uncontrolled manner Show general definition harmful or evil in medicine: harmful growth as with a cancerous tumor
	12	top 1000
immunenot in danger (from something) People are immune if they've had the virus previously or been vaccinated.more Show sample from book They studied immune suppression and cancer growth by injecting HeLa cells into immune-compromised rats, which developed malignant tumors much like Henrietta's.†11 more not in danger of suffering from something OR relating to disease resistance Show general definition not in danger of being affected by something -- especially a disease or: relating to disease resistance
	8	top 200
compensatecompensate → compensated:paid She is generously compensated for her work.more Show sample from book Experts on both sides of the debate worry that compensating patients would lead to profit-seekers inhibiting science by insisting on unrealistic financial agreements or demanding money for tissues used in noncommercial or nonprofit research.7 more compensate → compensating:paying Show general definition for compensate (as in: she is generously compensated) to make payment to someone
	25
cloneclone → cloned:technologically made as a genetically identical copy In 1997, Dolly the sheep was the first mammal successfully cloned from an adult cell.more Show sample from book Today, when we hear the word clone, we imagine scientists creating entire living animals—like Dolly the famous cloned sheep—using DNA from one parent.34 more clone → cloned:copied using technology Show general definition for clone (as in: Can we clone it?) to make a copy of something -- especially a genetically identical copy created with technology
	10
clone#2clone → clones:genetically identical copies (like identical twins created with technology) To understand differences that could be expected in human clones, it is useful to look at identical twins.more Show sample from book And soon they'd even be able to use the first-ever clones of human cells, something they'd been working toward for years.34 more clone → clones:genetically identical copies made with technology Show general definition for clone (as in: It is a clone.) a copy of something -- especially an organism with identical genetics created through technology
	5	top 200
inhibitinhibit → inhibits:slows or prevents The drug inhibits the spread of cancer.more Show sample from book So far, two courts have ruled against the patients, relying on the same logic used in the Moore case (that giving patients those rights would inhibit research, etc).5 more limit Show general definition for inhibit (as in: inhibited the growth of...) to limit the activity of someone or something
	1	top 500
inhibitedunable to act naturally due to being overly self-conscious She's personable and funny with her friends, but she tends to be inhibited with strangers.more Show sample from book "If allowed to grow uninhibited under optimal cultural conditions, [HeLa] would have taken over the world by this time," they wrote.†5 more inhibited → uninhibited:acting naturally without being overly self-conscious Show context notes The prefix "un-" in uninhibited means not and reverses the meaning of inhibited. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
	16
biopsyremoval and examination of tissues or liquids from the living body to determine the existence or cause of a disease The doctor told me it was cancerous even before the biopsy came back.more Show sample from book She knew about harvesting tobacco and butchering a pig, but she'd never heard the words cervix or biopsy.†15 more Show general definition removal and examination of tissues or liquids from the living body to determine the existence or cause of a disease
	2	top 2000
positivecertain I'm positive I've seen her before.more Show sample from book When radium was first discovered in the late 1800s, headlines nationwide hailed it as "a substitute for gas, electricity, and a positive cure for every disease."7 more Show general definition for positive (as in: I'm absolutely positive!) certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
	6
positive#2it found the condition present The pregnancy test was positive.more Show sample from book Within weeks of Henrietta's death, Sonny, Deborah, and baby Joe—all between one and four years old—tested positive for TB.7 more indicating that a condition was found Show general definition for positive (as in: The test came back positive.) found a condition or substance to be present indicating the presence of something being tested for -- especially a disease, condition, or substance
	11
hepatitisdisease that causes inflammation of the liver She is tired and looks a little yellow, so I want a doctor to test her for hepatitis.more Show sample from book A small boom box leaned against one wall blaring a gospel call-in show, with a preacher screaming something about the Lord curing a caller of hepatitis.†10 more Show general definition inflammation of the liver that can make it hard for the body to process wastes and other chemicals Show editor's word notes There are several types of hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis A, B, and C. Type A spreads mainly through contaminated food or water. Types B & C spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids. Some infections go away, but others can become long-term and damage the liver.