Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies that are identical in structure and function.

Each cell surface antigen of a pathogen will activate a different B cell.

This B cell will divide by mitosis into B cell clones and differentiate into into clones of B plasma cells and B memory cells.

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mitosis: Nuclear division that produces two daughter nuclei, each genetically identical to the parent nucleus.
pathogen: A microorganism, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus or protoctist, that causes disease.
antigen: A protein or glycoprotein, usually on a cell surface, that is recognised as foreign by the immune system and triggers an immune response.
antibody: A Y-shaped protein, made of four polypeptide chains with variable regions complementary to a specific antigen, produced by B plasma cells.
B-lymphocyte: A type of white blood cell, matured in the bone marrow, responsible for the humoral immune response and antibody production.