Hybridoma Production
- Immunise mouse with antigen
- Extract B cells from spleen
- Fuse B cells + myeloma cells = hybridoma
- Hybridoma = antibody ability + immortality
- Select, clone, mass produce
Applications
- Pregnancy test: detects hCG hormone; line = positive
- Cancer treatment: targets cancer surface antigens
- ELISA: detects pathogens or antibodies in blood
- Blood typing: identifies ABO antigens
- Drug delivery: antibody carries toxin to cancer cells
Common Marks Lost
- Saying hybridoma = B cell + T cell (it is B cell + myeloma)
- Confusing mono (identical) with polyclonal (mixed)
- Pregnancy test "detects pregnancy" โ it detects hCG
- Saying monoclonal antibodies are vaccines (they are not)
- Not explaining WHY myeloma cells are used (immortality)
This topic summary covers Knowledge Organiser within Monoclonal Antibodies for GCSE Biology. Production and medical applications of identical antibodies, hybridoma cells, diagnostics It is section 16 of 17 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Monoclonal Antibodies
What does the term 'monoclonal antibody' mean?
Explain why hybridoma cells are needed to produce monoclonal antibodies.
Quick recall flashcards
What are myeloma cells?
Immortal cancer cells that divide continuously and are used to create hybridoma cells
What is hCG?
Human chorionic gonadotrophin - a hormone only produced during pregnancy, detected by pregnancy tests