Biology Paper 1

• how monoclonal antibodies are formed:

  • obtain mice lymphocytes (cannot divide) which are stimulated to produce a specific antibody
  • combine with tumour cells to divide rapidly by mitosis, called a hybridoma
  • the hybridoma can divide to produce clones of itself which all produce the same antibody
  • the antibodies are collected and purified
• what are the advantages of monoclonal antibodies?

  • they only bind to specific cells so healthy ones are not affected
  • can be engineered to treat many conditions
• what are the disadvantages of monoclonal antibodies?

  • difficult to attach them to drugs
  • expensive to develop
  • they can trigger an immune response as they made from mice lymphocytes