Question 1: Define monoclonal antibodies and explain how they are produced.

Answer: Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies produced by a single clone of plasma cells; they are generated by fusing a specific antibody-producing B cell with a myeloma cell to create a hybridoma that can produce large quantities of the antibody.

Question 2: Describe one way in which monoclonal antibodies are used in cancer treatment.

Answer: They can be used to target cancer cells specifically by binding to antigens on their surface, delivering drugs or radioactive substances directly to the tumour.

Question 1: A study shows that a new monoclonal antibody therapy reduces tumour size by an average of 35% compared to a placebo. The standard deviation is 5%. If the therapy was tested on 50 patients, calculate the 95% confidence interval for the mean reduction in tumour size.

Answer: Mean ± (1.96 × (Standard Deviation / √n)) = 35% ± (1.96 × (5% / √50)) ≈ 35% ± 1.38%, so the confidence interval is approximately 33.62% to 36.38%.

Question 2: A clinical trial reports that 85% of patients responded positively to a monoclonal antibody drug. Out of 200 patients, how many responded?

Answer: 0.85 × 200 = 170 patients.

Question 3: In an experiment, researchers tested the effect of monoclonal antibodies on reducing inflammation. They varied the dosage (variable) and measured the reduction in inflammation (response). Identify the independent and dependent variables.

Answer: Independent variable: dosage of monoclonal antibodies; Dependent variable: level of inflammation reduction.

Question 1: Design a simple experiment to test the effectiveness of a monoclonal antibody in targeting a specific virus. Include the variables involved and safety precautions.

Answer: The experiment involves exposing two groups of cultured cells: one treated with the monoclonal antibody specific to the virus and one untreated control. Variables include antibody concentration (independent) and infection rate (dependent). Safety precautions include wearing protective gloves and working in a biosafety cabinet to prevent contamination and exposure to infectious agents.

Question 2: Identify two ethical considerations when developing monoclonal antibody therapies for human use.

Answer: Ensuring patient safety and informed consent; and considering the cost and accessibility of the treatment.

Question 1: Explain how monoclonal antibodies are used in home pregnancy tests.

Answer: They bind to the hormone hCG in urine; if present, the antibody-hCG complex causes a colour change on the test strip indicating pregnancy.

Question 2: Discuss one limitation of using monoclonal antibodies in medical treatments.

Answer: Monoclonal antibodies can trigger immune responses in some patients, leading to allergic reactions or reduced effectiveness over time; also, they can be expensive to produce and administer.