monoclonal antibodies

• Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of one type of antibody and are mass produced by creating hybridoma cells in a lab. They have many different uses, from treating and diagnosing all kinds of diseases to making pregnancy tests work. Whilst they are incredibly useful, there are limitations and ethical issues surrounding the use of monoclonal antibodies.
• process:

  1. A mouse is injected with an antigen.
  2. This triggers an immune response in the mouse and its lymphocytes will begin producing antibodies specific to the injected antigen. 
  3. These lymphocytes do not divide easily so are fused with tumour cells that divide rapidly. These new cells are called hybridomas. 
  4. Hybridomas divide rapidly and create lots of cells that all create the same antibody. These antibodies can be collected, purified and used.
• Monoclonal antibodies are simply copies of the same antibody because they come from a cloned lymphocyte.  
• The antibodies made bind to one specific type of antigen which makes them extremely useful as they can target a specific chemical or specific group of cells.
• Pregnancy Tests:

  1. Pregnant people produce the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which is emitted in their urine.
  2. Monoclonal antibodies that are specific to the hCG hormone are attached to the pregnancy test stick.
  3. When urinated upon the urine travels up the stick, to the antibodies. If hCG hormone is present in the urine, it will bind to the monoclonal antibodies and cause a colour change, indicating that the person is pregnant. 
• Monoclonal antibodies


  Can help treat diseases such as cancer without damaging the other cells around it
• Cancers


  • Have specific antigens called tumour markers on their surface
  • Monoclonal antibodies specific to these antigens can be produced and adapted to detect and treat cancers all around the body
• Monoclonal antibodies

  1. Bind to the cancerous cells

  2. Help doctors locate the cancer cells in the body so they can be treated and removed
• problems with monoclonal antibodies:

  • There are more side effects than expected, caused by the use of mouse antibodies. 
  • It is more expensive and difficult to do than anticipated.
  • Many people think it is unethical to use mice to produce antibodies.
• Monoclonal antibodies


  1. Anticancer drugs can be attached to them

  2. They can bind specifically to the cancer cells and destroy them
• Monoclonal antibodies


  Can trigger the natural immune system to attack the cancerous cells
• Monoclonal antibodies can also be attached to fluorescent dyes to be able to identify the location of certain substances in the body for research and medical purposes. 
• Monoclonal antibodies

  Can bind to the cancer cells and block chemicals that cause them to rapidly divide
• Monoclonal antibodies can be produced to be able to target specific things in the blood, such as certain hormones, drugs and pathogens. Laboratories use them to run investigations about the levels of different substances in the blood so they can diagnose diseases and hormone imbalances and carry out drug tests.