Producing Monoclonal Antibodies (AQA GCSE Biology)

Making Monoclonal Antibodies

Higher tier only

• Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies that are made by identical immune cells, these identical immune cells are clones of the parent cell

• Antibodies are Y shaped proteins made by lymphocytes, (see Human Defence Systems)

• The antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen and so are able to target a specific chemical or specific cells in the body

• They are produced by stimulating mouse lymphocytes to make a particular antibody by exposing them to an antigen

The antigen is injected into a mouse and the antibodies combined with a tumour cell to make clones of the antibody

• The lymphocytes are combined with a particular type of tumour cell to make a hybridoma cell

  • Tumour cells can divide repeatedly which is why they are used

• The hybridoma cell can both divide and produce the antibody

• Single hybridoma cells are cloned, resulting in many divisions, making high quantities of identical cells that all produce the same antibody

• A large amount of the antibody can be collected and purified ready for use