Antibodies

Question 1

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 1

They are antibodies that carry useful chemical markers or treatments

Question 2

Why is a set a monoclonal antibodies identical?

Answer 2

Because they are produced in a large quantity from the same hybridoma cells

Question 3

How is a hybridoma cell formed?

Answer 3

You take the B lymphocyte from a mouse (even though the B lymphocyte makes antibodies, it does not divide) and fuse it with the tumour cell (it divides but does not produce antibodies). The hybridoma cell should be able to divide and produce antibodies that are all the same

Question 4

Why is it better to use monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer than radiotherapy?

Answer 4

It is better because it can target the specific cell by attaching to it without causing any damages to the other cells and soft tissues- unlike radiotherapy. Only the target cells are affected by the monoclonal antibody and hence smaller amounts of drugs are used

Question 5

What are the uses for monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 5

Pregnancy tests: identify pregnancy hormone in urine

Blood clots/cancer: stick to it so that it can be detected an treated