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 B lymphocytes
- The antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen and so can 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
Monoclonal antibody production diagram
The antigen is injected into a mouse and the antibodies combined with a tumour cell to make clones of the antibody
- The activated mouse B lymphocytes are fused 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 monoclonal 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 monoclonal antibody can be collected and purified ready for use
Examiner Tip
The cells produced in this way create only one type of antibody, hence the name āmonoclonal antibodiesā.
