Why is HeLa contamination a problem?

[Ben]

In the HeLa bomb chapter, the culture cell scientist were having a conference about the progress and one said that a quite number of cultured cell is contaminated of HeLa. Why does it pose problems? Is it because Henreitta is a black woman or is it because they are trying to make genuine/unique cells? Why is it a problem?

I'm quite confused.

[Tim]

If cell cultures are contaminated with HeLa cells and scientists are unaware of that, then they will think they are testing other cells when actually they are testing HeLa cells. Their experiments and tests will give wrong and misleading results.

[Ben]

Tim wrote: "If cell cultures are contaminated with HeLa cells and scientists are unaware of that, then they will think they are testing other cells when actually they are testing HeLa cells. Their experiments..."

Thanks that cleared me up.