5.21B **Higher and Biology Only** -​ ​Production of Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 1

Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies produced from the same immune cell.

Question 2

What is the significance of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 2

They can bind to only one protein antigen, allowing them to target chemicals and cells in the body.

Question 3

What are some medical uses of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 3

They have many different medical uses, such as in pregnancy testing.

Question 4

How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

Answer 4

1. Scientists obtain mice lymphocytes that have been stimulated to produce a specific antibody.
2. They are combined with tumour cells to form a hybridoma.
3. The hybridoma can divide to produce clones of itself, which all produce the same antibody.
4. The antibodies are collected and purified.

Question 5

What are mice lymphocytes?

Answer 5

A type of white blood cell that makes antibodies but cannot divide.

Question 6

What are tumour cells?

Answer 6

Cells that do not make antibodies but divide rapidly.

Question 7

What is a hybridoma?

Answer 7

A cell formed by the combination of mice lymphocytes and tumour cells, capable of dividing and producing identical antibodies.