Uses of Monoclonal Antibodies
Higher tier only
- The cloned antibodies that are produced can be to a specific protein on the cell or a particular chemical
- Monoclonal antibodies have a variety of uses. Some examples include:
- In pregnancy tests
- In laboratories to measure the levels of hormones and other chemicals in blood (such as some cancer proteins), or to detect pathogens
- In research to locate or identify specific molecules in a cell or tissue by binding to them with a fluorescent dye
- To treat some diseases: for cancer the monoclonal antibody can be bound to a radioactive substance, a toxic drug or a chemical which stops cells growing and dividing. It delivers the substance to the cancer cells without harming other cells in the body
Use of monoclonal antibodies table
Exam Tip
You are not expected to recall any specific tests or treatments but given appropriate information, you should be able to explain how they work using the principles of antibody specificity. You should be able to describe some of the ways in which monoclonal antibodies can be used in the exam. You should also appreciate the power of monoclonal antibodies and be considerate of ethical issues as a result of their production and use.
