BRAINCAKEBiochemical Relationships
Proteins from different species can be compared using antibodies. This immunological method shows how similar the proteins are, and so how closely the species are related.
The method:
1. Proteins from human blood serum (for example serum albumin) are injected into a rabbit.
2. The rabbit's immune system recognises them as foreign antigens and makes antibodies against them.
3. Serum containing these anti-human antibodies (called antiserum) is collected from the rabbit.
4. The antiserum is mixed with serum from another species. The antibodies bind to any proteins with a similar shape, forming antigen-antibody complexes that clump together as a precipitate.
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More in Classification
- Identifying a Species
- DNA Barcode
- DNA Analysis and Proteomics
- New Evolutionary Models
- More Biochemical Relationships
- Gel Electrophoresis
- Domains
- Kingdoms
All 19 lessons in Classification · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics