monoclonal antibodies

• How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

  By cloning a single cell to produce antibodies
• What type of cells produce antibodies?

  B lymphocytes or B cells
• What is the role of antibodies in the immune system?

  To help fight disease by binding to antigens
• What are antigens?

  Foreign materials that antibodies bind to
• How do antibodies recognize bacteria?

  By binding to specific antigens on bacteria
• What is the significance of hybridoma cells in monoclonal antibody production?

  They produce antibodies and divide rapidly
• How are hybridoma cells created?

  By fusing B cells with fast-dividing tumor cells
• What is the purpose of injecting an animal with an antigen?

  To stimulate an immune response
• What happens to the B lymphocytes after the animal is injected with the antigen?

  They produce specific antibodies against the antigen
• Why can monoclonal antibodies be designed to bind to specific targets?

  They are derived from specific B lymphocytes
• How can monoclonal antibodies be used in cancer treatment?

  By attaching drugs or radioactive material to them
• What is the advantage of monoclonal antibodies in targeting cancer cells?

  They bind specifically to cancer cell antigens
• What are the steps involved in producing monoclonal antibodies?

  1. Inject an animal with the antigen.
  2. The animal's immune system produces B lymphocytes.
  3. Isolate the specific B lymphocytes.
  4. Fuse B lymphocytes with fast-dividing tumor cells to create hybridomas.
  5. Allow hybridomas to divide and produce antibodies.
  6. Collect and purify the monoclonal antibodies.
• What is the shape of antibodies often represented as?

  Y shapes
• What can be attached to monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic purposes?

  Drugs, fluorescent proteins, or radioactive material
• How do monoclonal antibodies locate cancer cells in treatment?

  By binding to specific antigens on cancer cells
• What is the main benefit of using monoclonal antibodies in medicine?

  They target specific cells or proteins