monoclonal antibodies. Flashcards
how are monoclonal antibodies made?
from a single cell that has divided to make many cloned copies of itself.
what do they do to enable themselves to be effective?
bind only to one type of antigen so they can be used to target specific chemical or specific cells in the body.
how are they produced?
combining mouse cells and a tumour cell to make a cell called a hybridoma.
how can monoclonal antibodies be used?
in pregnancy tests.
in labs to measure levels of hormones and other chemicals in blood or to detect pathogens.
in research to locate or identify specific molecules in a cell or tissue.
to treat some diseases.
how are they used in research?
bind them to florescent dye.
how are they used to treat some diseases?
eg: in cancer they are used to deliver a radioactive substance, a toxic drug, or chemical that stops cells dividing , specifically the cancerous cells.
how are they used in pregnancy tests?
bind to the hormone HCG found in urine during early pregnancy.
why aren’t they widely used?
created more side effects than expected so not widely used yet.
