Collage of cervical cancer cell, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The cervix is the lower part of the womb, also called the neck of the womb, and comprises part of the woman's reproductive system. Cervical cancer is more common in younger women. One of the main causes of cervical cancer is a persistent infection of certain types of human papilloma virus (HPV). This is a HeLa cell, a cultured cell line that was derived from a biopsy of a cervical tumour in 1951 from Henrietta Lacks who died of cervical cancer in October 1951 aged just 31. HeLa cells are an immortal cell line which means that they are able to divide perpetually. HeLa cells also grow easily and rapidly in culture which, along with their immortality, makes them ideal for many areas of biological, medical and molecular research.