producing monoclonal antibodies

• What is a monoclonal antibody?

  Antibodies produced from a single clone of cells.
• Why are monoclonal antibodies special?

  They are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen. This makes them useful for targeting a specific chemical or specific type of cell in the body.
• Where do monoclonal antibodies come from?

  Scientists make them by stimulating mouse lymphocytes (lymphocytes are the type of white blood cell that makes antibodies).
• How are lymphocytes stimulated to make monoclonal antibodies?

  Lymphocytes are combined with a type of tumour cell to make a hybridoma cell.
• What do hybridoma cells do?

  Hybridoma cells can divide by mitosis and can make the particular antibody.
• How do scientists get enough antibodies to use in treatments?

  A single hybridoma cell is cloned to make lots of identical cells. They all make the same antibody, so lots of the antibody can be collected.
• What do scientists do to the antibodies before use?

  The antibodies need to be purified to remove any toxins, viruses or fragments of DNA that may have come from the hybridoma cells.
• Monoclonal antibodies are produced from a single clone of cells