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3.2.1Producing monoclonal antibodies

AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Higher tier · Infection and response › Monoclonal antibodies

Practise Producing monoclonal antibodies. 14 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.

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Complete the sentence.
Each monoclonal antibody is specific to one binding site on one protein .................... .
antigen

Sample questions

Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.

Question 1Easy4 marks
Monoclonal antibodies are produced in laboratories.
(a) Monoclonal antibodies are produced from a single clone of cells.
What is meant by a clone of cells?[1]
(b) Which two types of cell are combined to make a hybridoma cell?
Tick (✓) two boxes.[2]
  • Mouse lymphocyte
  • Phagocyte
  • Red blood cell
  • Stem cell
  • Tumour cell
(c) Complete the sentence.
Each monoclonal antibody is specific to one binding site on one protein .................... .[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
  • (a group of) genetically identical cells (all produced from one cell)
(b) Answer: Mouse lymphocyte; Tumour cell
(c) Answer: antigen
  • antigen
Question 2Medium7 marks
Scientists want to produce monoclonal antibodies that bind to a particular protein.
(a) Describe how scientists stimulate mouse lymphocytes to make an antibody against this protein.[2]
(b) The lymphocytes are combined with tumour cells to make hybridoma cells.
Give two properties of a hybridoma cell.[2]
(c) Explain why all the antibodies produced are identical.[2]
(d) What happens to the antibodies after they have been made by the hybridoma cells?[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
  • inject a mouse with the protein / antigen
  • the mouse's lymphocytes produce antibodies specific to the protein
(b)
  • it can divide (many times)
  • it makes the (specific) antibody
(c)
  • a single hybridoma cell is cloned
  • (so) all the cells are genetically identical and make the same antibody
(d)
  • they are collected and purified
Question 3Hard8 marks
Monoclonal antibodies are used in medicine and in research.
(a) Describe how monoclonal antibodies that bind to a specific antigen are produced.[6]
(b) Explain why these antibodies are described as monoclonal.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
  • a mouse is injected with the antigen
  • this stimulates the mouse's lymphocytes to make antibodies specific to the antigen
  • the lymphocytes are removed from the mouse
  • the lymphocytes are combined / fused with tumour cells
  • to make hybridoma cells, which can both divide and make the antibody
  • the hybridoma cells are tested and one that makes the correct antibody is selected
  • a single hybridoma cell is cloned to produce many identical cells
  • all the cells produce the same antibody
  • a large amount of antibody is collected and purified

Marked with levels of response: the full level descriptors are in the app.

(b)
  • they come from a single clone of cells
  • (so) all the antibodies are identical / bind to the same binding site on the antigen

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