Infection & ResponseKey Facts
Advantages of Monoclonal Over Polyclonal Antibodies
Part of Monoclonal Antibodies — GCSE Biology
This key facts covers Advantages of Monoclonal Over Polyclonal Antibodies within Monoclonal Antibodies for GCSE Biology. Production and medical applications of identical antibodies, hybridoma cells, diagnostics It is section 7 of 17 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 7 of 17
Practice
15 questions
Recall
18 flashcards
Advantages of Monoclonal Over Polyclonal Antibodies
| Characteristic | Monoclonal | Polyclonal |
|---|---|---|
| Specificity | Very high - one epitope only | Lower - multiple epitopes |
| Consistency | Always identical | Varies between animals |
| Supply | Unlimited production | Limited by animal lifespan |
| Contamination | Pure - single clone | Mixed - many clones |
| Cost (long-term) | Lower - mass production | Higher - need animals |
| Sensitivity | Lower - single binding site | Higher - multiple sites |