Antibodies 2 Flashcards
How are monoclonal antibodies used in medical diagnosis?
They help diagnose diseases like chlamydia and certain cancers, providing faster results than conventional methods
What hormone do pregnancy tests defect and what organ produces it?
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), produced by the placenta
How do pregnancy tests use monoclonal antibodies?
Monoclonal antibodies linked to colour particles bind to hCG in urine, forming a hCG - antibody - colour complex
How does a positive pregnancy test produce a visible result?
The hCG - antibody - colour -complex moves along the test strip and gets trapped by a second antibody, forming a coloured line
Why is the use of monoclonal antibodies ethically controversial?
Their production involves using mice, including cancer to obtain tumour cells
What ethical responsibility exists when using monoclonal antibody treatments?
Patients must be given full knowledge of risks and benefits before treatment (informed consent)
What ethical issue arises from inducing cancer in mice?
Despite guidelines to minimise suffering, some people object to causing deliberate harm to animals
How have monoclonal antibodies benefitted medicine?
They have successfully treated diseases like cancer and diabetes, saving many lives
What is a risk associated with monoclonal antibody treatment?
Some treatments have led to deaths
