Paper 1 - monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are monoclonal antibodies ?

Answer 1

Large amounts of identical antibodies.

Question 2

How can we produce large amounts of identical antibodies ?

Answer 2

Normal lymphocytes unable to produce large amounts -> divide and make clones but once antibodies produced, division stops.
We use HYBRIDOMIA CELLS.

Question 3

How can we produce hybridomia cells ?

Answer 3

• Made by fusing the lymphocyte that produces the right kind of antibodies with a cancer cell (can divide over and over again).
• hybridomia contains both characteristics

Question 4

How can we produce lymphocytes in a test ?

Answer 4

Particular antigen e.g hormone, injected into subject. Produces lymphocytes that produces antibodies to counteract the antigen (human).

Question 5

Monoclonal antibodies uses in life .

Answer 5

Use in Pregnancy tests.

• work by detecting a hormone in the pregnant woman’s urine.
• monoclonal antibodies produced and put onto pregnancy stick.
• if the antigens (from the urine) match with the antibodies there is a colour change.

Question 6

Monoclonal antibodies use in the body.

Answer 6

• can be made to match any protein, so can be made to stick to specific body cells such as cancer and platelets ■ (however may cause clots so be careful with placement in the blood !!!).
• can also be used to identify pathogens as they stick to antigens.

Question 7

Monoclonal antibodies use in medical diagnosis.

Answer 7

Make the antibody slightly radioactive -> attaches to a cancer cell, which we can use a PET scanner to detect.

Question 8

Cancer treatment + how monoclonal antibodies can limit damage to the body.

Answer 8

After cancer found by monoclonal antibodies we need to treat it.
■ drugs (chemo) or ionising radiation (radiotherapy) are used to kill the cancer cells. -> healthy cells can be damaged due to exposure and damaged.
■ if monoclonal antibodies delivered just to cancer cells we will have to use less therapy, less chance of damaging healthy cells