B6

Question 1

How are monoclonal antibodies formed?

Answer 1

1. An antigen is injected into a mouse
2. The mouse naturally produces lymphocytes, which produce antibodies specific to the antigen
3. Spleen cells which produce the lymphocytes are removed during a small operation
4. The spleen cells are fused with human cancerous white blood cells called myeloma cells to form hybridoma cells which divide indefinitely
5. These hybridoma cells divide and produce millions of monoclonal antibodies specific to the original antigen

Question 2

How could identifying disease be easier using monoclonal antibodies? (UV)

Answer 2

Some monoclonal antibodies have been attached to dyes that will glow fluorescent under UV light. This can make disease identification much easier.

Question 3

Monoclonal antibodies have been designed to treat cancer by:

Answer 3

• carrying drugs that have been attached to them, to the tumour
• encouraging your immune system to attack the cancer cells directly

Question 4

give some purposes of monoclonal antibodies

Answer 4

• testing for pregnancy by detecting HCG hormones in urine
• testing for diseases such herpes and chlamydia, and
  HIV
• to treat conditions like cancer by carrying drugs directly to the tumour cells, and helping the
  immune system attack them
• monoclonal antibodies can be produced quickly despite the fact that it can be time consuming when they are made for the first time

Question 5

How could monoclonal antibodies treat cancer?

Answer 5

• can be bound to a radioactive substance, toxic drug or chemical which stops cancer cells growing and dividing

Question 6

What does a pregnancy test kit consist of?

Answer 6

A stick containing monoclonal antibodies specific to hCG:

• mAbs attached to a blue bead (free to move)
  -mAbs fixed to the test stick

Question 7

Describe what happens to the test if a woman is pregnant

Answer 7

• hCG in urine binds to mAbs attached to a blue bead
• mAbs with hCG diffuse up the stick
• mAbs fixed to the stick bind to hCG
• blue line forms

Question 8

Describe what happens to the test if a women is not pregnant

Answer 8

• no blue line formed as there is no hCG in urine for mAbs to bind to

Question 9

What advantages are there of using monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 9

• quick results
• accurate
• specific to one particular antigen

Question 10

where does aspirin originate from?

Answer 10

willow

Question 11

where does digitalis originate from?

Answer 11

foxglove