I contend that the continual divergence of chromosomal features ('karyotype') and DNA sequence in dynamic cancer-cell populations undermines debate over ownership of the HeLa cancer-cell line derived from Henrietta Lacks six decades ago (see Nature 500, 121 and 132–133; 2013).

The HeLa genome is no longer Henrietta Lacks's personal genome. Although the two share some DNA sequences, the similarity ends there. Lacks's genome had the usual number of 46 normal chromosomes, whereas most HeLa cells have 70–90 chromosomes and more than 20 translocations, some of which are highly complex.

Changes in the HeLa genome in the past few decades have resulted from multiple cycles of genome reorganization during the cancer process and from the initial cell-culture experiments. Considering that chromosomes provide the genome identity and blueprint, it might even be argued that the HeLa genome is no longer a human genome.