4.3.2.1 Producing monoclonal antibodies

antibodies

protein molecules which stick to pathogens

what are antibodies produced by

white blood cells called lymphocytes

what are monoclonal antibodies

are identical antibodies, that have been produced from the same immune cell. As a result of their ability to bind to only one protein antigen, they can be used to target chemicals and cells in the body and so have many different medical uses, e.g. in pregnancy testing

what do lymphocytes do

produce antibodies against anything that the body detects as foreign

antigens

foreign objects in the body

how are antibodies produced

scientist can trigger lymphocytes to produce antibodies

1\. Scientists obtain mice lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that make antibodies but cannot divide), which have been stimulated to produce a specific antibody

. 2. They are combined with tumour cells (do not make antibodies but divide rapidly), to form a cell called a hybridoma.

3. The hybridoma can divide to produce clones of itself, which all produce the same antibody.

4. The antibodies are collected and purified.

key facts

monoclonal antibodies are produced from a single clone of hybridoma cells

that means that monoclonal antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen

the benefit of this is that monoclonal antibodies can target a specific chemical or specific cells in the body. that means that monoclonal antibodies have a large nube rof uses