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* Antibodies are produced by B-lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).

* Monoclonal antibodies are produced from clones of a single white blood cell

(This means all of the antibodies are identical and will only target one specific

protein antigen)

* However, lymphocytes don’t divide very easily so it is difficult to grow more of

them.

* Tumour cells, on the other hand, don’t make antibodies but divide lots – so can

be grown easily.

* It is therefore possible to fuse a mouse B-lymphocyte with a tumour cell to

create a cell called a hybridoma. The hybridoma cell can divide and make the

antibody.

* Hybridoma cells can be cloned to get lots of identical cells. These cloned cells all

produce the same antibodies (monoclonal antibodies).

* A large amount of the antibody can be collected and purified.

* The antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen and so are

able to target a specific chemical or specific cells in the body. You can make

monoclonal antibodies that bind to anything you want e.g. an antigen that’s

only found on the surface of one type of cell.