Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are monoclonal antibodies made from?

Answer 1

A lymphocyte and a Tumor cell

Question 2

What is the name of a cell made of a Tumor cell and a lymphocyte?

Answer 2

Hybridoma cells

Question 3

What are the pros of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 3

They target specific cells so can be used for cancer treatment (unlike radiotherapy that can also kill surrounding cells), it has less side effects

Question 4

What are the cons of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 4

You can have allergic reactions, they are also still experimental and not fully developed

Question 5

What problem do lymphocytes have that is fixed by merging it with a Tumor cell?

Answer 5

They don’t reproduce quickly whereas hybridoma cells reproduce quickly

Question 6

Where are the lymphocytes taken from when producing monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 6

From a mouse after it is infected with a specific antigen

Question 7

The 3 stages of producing monoclonal antibodies are:

Answer 7

1) taking the lymphocytes from a mouse with a specific antigen
2) Tumour cells are taken to be mixed with the lymphocytes
3) the lymphocytes are mixed with the tumour cells to make hybridoma cells which can produce antibodies and reproduce rapidly