3.13 Producing monoclonal antibodies
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What are monoclonal antibodies?
Mark scheme
- identical antibodies (1)
- produced from a single clone of cells / specific to one antigen (1)
Model answer
Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies made by a single clone of cells, all specific to one antigen.
Why are lymphocytes fused with tumour cells to make monoclonal antibodies?
Mark scheme
- lymphocytes make the (specific) antibody but do not divide (1)
- tumour cells divide rapidly, so the hybridoma divides and makes antibody (1)
Model answer
Lymphocytes make the antibody but cannot divide in the lab, while tumour cells divide rapidly. Fusing them gives a hybridoma cell that both divides and makes the antibody.
Describe how monoclonal antibodies are produced.
Mark scheme
Level 3 (5–6 marks): all main steps in a logical order with correct terms. Level 2 (3–4 marks): most steps, mostly in order. Level 1 (1–2 marks): some relevant steps.
Indicative content:
- mouse injected with an antigen
- mouse lymphocytes make antibodies against the antigen
- lymphocytes collected
- fused with tumour / myeloma cells
- forms hybridoma cells
- hybridoma that makes the right antibody selected
- cloned / divides to make many identical cells
- antibodies collected and purified
Model answer
A mouse is injected with the antigen. Its lymphocytes start to make antibodies against it, and these lymphocytes are collected. They are fused with tumour cells to make hybridoma cells, which divide rapidly and make the antibody. A single hybridoma that makes the right antibody is chosen and cloned, giving many identical cells. The antibodies they produce are collected and purified.
What is a hybridoma cell?
Choose one answer.
Correct Not quite: the answer is A cell formed by fusing a lymphocyte and a tumour cell
Mark scheme
C
Model answer
C: a cell formed by fusing a lymphocyte and a tumour cell.
Why is a single hybridoma cell cloned, rather than using a mixture of hybridoma cells?
Mark scheme
- so all the cells are identical (1)
- so all the antibodies are the same / specific to the same antigen (1)
Model answer
Cloning one hybridoma means every cell is identical, so they all make exactly the same antibody, specific to one antigen.
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