A
These antibodies are obtained from one parent and for one antigen
B
These are obtained from different parents and for one antigen
C
These are obtained from one parent and for many antigens
D
These are obtained from many parents and for many antigens
The answer is B.
Solution
Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies produced by a single clone of cells, and they are specific for one antigen (one epitope). They are made by hybridoma technology (Kohler and Milstein, 1975): an antibody-producing B-lymphocyte (from a mouse immunised with the antigen) is fused with a myeloma (cancer) cell. So the hybridoma cell is derived from two different parent cells: the B-cell provides the ability to make the specific antibody and the myeloma cell provides the ability to divide indefinitely. So, as per the answer key, monoclonal antibodies are obtained from different parents (two fused parent cells) and are for one antigen.
ConceptHybridoma cells
Biotechnology and its Applications in past papers
86 questions from this chapter have appeared across 26 exam years.
