Monoclonal Antibodies (WJEC GCSE Biology)

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