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GCSE Biology · key term
A group of identical antibodies that bind to one specific antigen.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.3.3.1 · Paper 1
Identical antibodies that bind to one specific binding site and can therefore be used in a test to detect a particular pathogen or chemical.
Revise: Disease Detection in PlantsA testing kit containing monoclonal antibodies can also be used. Each monoclonal antibody binds specifically to a particular target. If the matching pathogen or its molecules are present in the plant sample, binding produces the test's detectable result.
Specification 5.21B, 5.22B · Paper 1
For an explanation question, give the whole sequence: hCG in urine binds to labelled monoclonal antibodies; the complexes move along the strip; they bind to immobilised antibodies; the accumulated label forms a coloured test line.
Do not spend time describing how monoclonal antibodies are produced when the question asks how a pregnancy test works.
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Identical antibodies produced by cells descended from one selected hybridoma.
The identical antibodies are called monoclonal antibodies. Selecting one hybridoma matters because different starting lymphocytes may make antibodies that bind to different targets.
Specification B6.3m · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
Identical antibodies made by cells cloned from one selected antibody-producing cell; they bind to the same target.
Revise: Monoclonal antibodies productionBecause they come from one selected cell clone, they are called monoclonal antibodies.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
Identical antibodies made to recognise one specific biological target.
Revise: Applications of ScienceMonoclonal antibodies are made to recognise a particular target molecule. In a pregnancy test, antibodies recognise a hormone in urine, making an early result possible. Other monoclonal antibodies can recognise molecules associated with disease, helping doctors detect it.