What are monoclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies produced from a single clone of cells.


This means the antibodies are all identical and so are specific to one binding site on one protein's antigen. This allows them to be used to target a specific chemical or type of cell in the body.

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How do normal antibodies work?

  1. Antibodies are small proteins produced by special white blood cells called B-lymphocytes.
  2. They bind to antigens on the surface of foreign material, such as bacteria.
  3. This marks the foreign material for destruction by our immune system.


It is important to remember that antibodies don't directly kill pathogens. 

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Give 4 uses of monoclonal antibodies.

  1. For diagnosis, such as in pregnancy tests.
  2. In laboratories to measure the levels of hormones and other chemicals in the blood or to detect pathogens.
  3. In research to locate or identify specific molecules in a cell or tissue by binding to them with a fluorescent dye.
  4. To treat diseases: for cancer, the monoclonal antibody can be bound to a radioactive substance, a toxic drug, or a chemical which stops cells from growing and dividing. It delivers the substance to the cancer cells without harming other cells in the body.

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What is the main drawback of monoclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies often create more side effects than expected.

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What are the steps in producing monoclonal antibodies?

  1. Inject an animal with the antigen we want the antibodies to bind to.
  2. Let the animal develop an immune response, then isolate some of their B-lymphocytes.
  3. Combine those B-lymphocytes with fast-dividing tumour cells to form hybridoma cells.
  4. Let these hybridoma cells divide rapidly in a petri dish.
  5. Collect and purify the monoclonal antibodies they produce.

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