monoclonal antibodies

Question 1

what are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 1

• antibodies that have been produced from one cell that has been cloned
• therefore monoclonal antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen
• can target specific chemical or specific cells in the body

Question 2

how are monoclonal antibodies made?

Answer 2

• mouse is injected with an antigen
• mouse lymphocytes are stimulated to produce antibodies against antigen
• lymphocytes taken from mouse
• tumour cell grown in lab
• fuse with lymphocytes, forms hybridoma
• hybridoma cells divide quickly producing endless supply of monoclonal antibodies

Question 3

how are monoclonal antibodies used in pregnancy testing?

Answer 3

• monoclonal antibodies used to detect specific hormone only found in the urine of pregnant women
• bit were you wee on has antibodies to the hormone with blue beads attached
• test strip has antibodies that are stuck down and can’t move

Question 4

what happens if you are pregnant and wee on the stick?

Answer 4

• hormone binds to antibodies attached to blue beads on test strip
• urine moves up stick, carries hormone and beads
• hormone and beads bind to antibodies on strip
• blue beads get stuck on strip, turning it blue

Question 5

what happens if you are not pregnant and wee on the stick?

Answer 5

• urine still moves up stick carrying blue beads
• nothing to stick blue beads onto test strip, doesn’t go blue

Question 6

what are other uses of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 6

• treating disease like cancer
• measure level of hormones
• locate specific molecules in a tissue