Question 1: Define monoclonal antibodies and explain their significance in medicine.

Answer: Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies produced by a single clone of cells that are specific to a particular antigen, used in medicine for targeted treatment and diagnostics.

Question 2: Describe the role of hybridoma cells in the production of monoclonal antibodies.

Answer: Hybridoma cells are created by fusing a specific antibody-producing B cell with a cancer cell, enabling the production of large quantities of identical antibodies.

Question 3: Explain the main steps involved in producing monoclonal antibodies in a laboratory setting.

Answer: The process involves immunizing an animal to produce B cells, extracting these B cells, fusing them with myeloma (cancer) cells to create hybridomas, selecting hybridomas that produce the desired antibody, cloning these hybridomas, and then cultivating them to produce large quantities of monoclonal antibodies.

Question 4: A laboratory produces 250 milliliters of monoclonal antibody solution with a concentration of 2 mg/mL. How much total antibody (in milligrams) is produced?

Answer: Total antibody = volume × concentration = 250 mL × 2 mg/mL = 500 mg

Question 5: In an experiment, a hybridoma cell line produces 10 μg of monoclonal antibody per day. How much antibody will be produced in 7 days?

Answer: Total = 10 μg/day × 7 days = 70 μg

Question 6: Identify two safety precautions that should be followed during the hybridoma cell fusion process.

Answer: Wearing protective gloves and goggles to prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals and biological materials.

Question 7: What are some potential ethical considerations associated with the production of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer: Ethical considerations include animal testing, genetic manipulation, and ensuring that the production process is humane and environmentally responsible.

Question 8: A scientist is designing an experiment to test the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies against a virus. Identify three variables that should be controlled in this experiment.

Answer: The type and concentration of antibodies, the temperature of incubation, and the viral load used in the experiment.

Question 9: Explain how monoclonal antibodies are used in the treatment of cancer.

Answer: Monoclonal antibodies are designed to target specific proteins on cancer cells, helping to mark them for destruction by the immune system or delivering chemotherapy directly to the tumor, thereby reducing damage to healthy cells.

Question 10: Describe a real-world application of monoclonal antibodies outside of medicine.

Answer: Monoclonal antibodies are used in diagnostic tests, such as pregnancy tests and tests for infectious diseases like COVID-19.