Monoclonal antibodies | Biology | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which of the following are white blood cells?

lymphocytes ✓

erythrocytes

platelets

phagocytes ✓

plasma
The main role of which human system is to protect us from disease?

respiratory system

immune system ✓

endocrine system

circulatory system

digestive system
What are the subunits of proteins?

'amino acids' ✓
Match the term to its meaning.

antibody

⇔

proteins produced by a type of white blood cell ✓

antigens

⇔

the proteins on the surface of cells ✓

lymphocyte

⇔

white blood cells that produce antibodies ✓

phagocytes

⇔

white blood cells that engulf pathogens and digest them ✓
Select the best description of cancer.

a disease caused by a bacterium

a disease that can be passed between individuals

when uncontrolled cell division causes tumours to grow ✓

a disease caused by a virus
The Oak pupils are discussing vaccination. Who is correct?

Laura: "Vaccines contain antibodies."

Sam: "Vaccines contain drugs that stop a person becoming unwell."

Jacob: "Vaccines contain antigens." ✓

Lucas: "Vaccines are always given as an injection."

Exit quiz

Antigens and antibodies are ______ in their shape.

'complementary' ✓
Where are lymphocytes extracted from when making monoclonal antibodies?

white blood cells

the spleen ✓

the blood

the hybridoma

the liver
What is a hybridoma?

a type of white blood cell produced by mice

a type of white blood cell produced by the spleen

a vaccination combining antigens and antibodies

a white blood cell and a tumour cell that have been combined ✓
Put these steps in order to show how monoclonal antibodies are made.

1

⇔

The mouse is injected an antigen.

2

⇔

The mouse’s immune system doesn’t recognise the antigen and produces lymphocytes

3

⇔

The lymphocytes produce antibodies.

4

⇔

The scientists remove lymphocyte cells from an organ called the spleen.

5

⇔

The lymphocyte cells are fused with human cancerous white blood cells.

6

⇔

The hybridoma cells continue to divide, making many identical clones.

7

⇔

The cloned hybridoma cells are grown in culture and continue making the antibody
Select the uses of monoclonal antibodies.

detecting pathogens to diagnose disease ✓

detecting pregnancy ✓

being a 'magic bullet' to deliver treatments

detecting genetic diseases

detecting and locating molecules in cells and tissue ✓
In a pregnancy test what is the monoclonal antibody attaching to?

a lymphocyte

a drug

a hormone ✓

an antigen

the embryo

Worksheet

Loading worksheet ...

Presentation

Loading presentation ...

Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Monoclonal antibodies recognise a specific target, such as an antigen or other biological molecule.
Monoclonal antibodies are produced by combining a lymphocyte and a tumour cell to produce a hybridoma.
The hybridoma divides to make many copies of this single clone, which make monoclonal antibodies.
Monoclonal antibodies are used to detect pathogen antigens & molecules associated with pregnancy, blood clots & cancer.
Monoclonal antibodies can be attached to radioactive and toxic substances to treat diseased cells, e.g. tumour cells.

Common misconception

Monoclonal antibodies can act as a 'magic bullet' to deliver medication to certain cells.

The human body is complex and therapies using monoclonal antibodies have had some serious side effects. New treatments should always be treated with caution.

Keywords

Antigen - A molecule on the surface of a pathogen or other cell, which triggers an immune response.
Lymphocyte - A white blood cell that is part of the immune system and produces antibodies against a specific antigen.
Monoclonal antibodies - Antibodies produced from a single clone of a hybridoma.
Tumour cell - A cell that undergoes uncontrolled cell division.
Hybridoma - An antibody-producing lymphocyte and a tumour cell fused together.