Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of antibodies that have been grown in a laboratory. They can be designes to bind to many substances in the body, which can then be easily identified. A special type of white blood cells are a B lymphocyte makes antibodies naturally but there are lots of different types in each human body making different antibodies.

Uses: Pregnancy testing-Used to find small amounts of a hormone that the developing embryo produces called Chorionic gonadotrophin.

Blood clots: Can be made to bnd to specific antigens on blood clots and identify them.

Treating some cancers: Monoclonal antibodies can also be used to diagnose and treat some cancers. Some antibodies bind directly to the cancerous cells and encourage the suffer's immune system to attack them.

Scientists have found a way to copy lots of monoclonal antibodies from one type:

Vaccinate mouse to stimulate the production of antibodies > Collect spleen cells that ofrm antibodies from mouse = Tumor cells (myeloma) > Spleen and myeloma cells fuse to form hybridoma cells > Grow hybridoma cells in tissue culture and select antibody-forming cells > Collect monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of antibodies that have been grown in a laboratory. They can be designes to bind to many substances in the body, which can then be easily identified. A special type of white blood cells are a B lymphocyte makes antibodies naturally but there are lots of different types in each human body making different antibodies.

Uses: Pregnancy testing-Used to find small amounts of a hormone that the developing embryo produces called Chorionic gonadotrophin.

Blood clots: Can be made to bnd to specific antigens on blood clots and identify them.

Treating some cancers: Monoclonal antibodies can also be used to diagnose and treat some cancers. Some antibodies bind directly to the cancerous cells and encourage the suffer's immune system to attack them.

Scientists have found a way to copy lots of monoclonal antibodies from one type:

Vaccinate mouse to stimulate the production of antibodies > Collect spleen cells that ofrm antibodies from mouse = Tumor cells (myeloma) > Spleen and myeloma cells fuse to form hybridoma cells > Grow hybridoma cells in tissue culture and select antibody-forming cells > Collect monoclonal antibodies