This exam focus covers Exam Focus within Monoclonal Antibodies for GCSE Biology. Production and medical applications of identical antibodies, hybridoma cells, diagnostics It is section 15 of 17 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 15 of 17
Practice
15 questions
Recall
18 flashcards
Exam Focus
Moderately ExaminedMonoclonal antibodies appear in AQA Higher-tier questions, most commonly asking about hybridoma production or specific applications (pregnancy test, cancer treatment).
- Hybridoma production (4-5 marks): Must include: mouse immunised with antigen → B cells extracted from spleen → fused with myeloma cells → hybridoma cells selected → cloned → mass produced. The reason for each step is important.
- Pregnancy test mechanism (3-4 marks): hCG in urine → binds free antibodies (with colour marker) → complex travels to test line → captured by immobilised anti-hCG antibodies → coloured line forms. Must explain WHY each component exists.
- Advantages of monoclonal over polyclonal (2-3 marks): Specificity (one antigen), consistency (all identical), unlimited supply. Link each advantage to an application.
- Ethical considerations (2 marks): Animal welfare (mice used in production), cost/accessibility, long-term safety unknown. Balance with benefits in evaluation questions.
Common mark losses: Confusing monoclonal (identical, one clone) with polyclonal (mixed, many clones). Saying hybridoma = B cell + T cell (it is B cell + myeloma/cancer cell). Describing the pregnancy test as detecting "pregnancy" rather than the specific hCG hormone.