AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
Monoclonal antibodies create more side effects than expected. They are not…
Full specification wording
Uses of monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies create more side effects than expected. They are not yet as widely used as everyone hoped when they were first developed.
Monoclonal antibodies were expected to become a major way of treating disease because they can be made to bind one specific target.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 5
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Monoclonal antibodies were expected to become a major way of treating disease because they can be made to bind one specific target. In practice they cause more side effects than were expected. Possible reasons include an immune response to the antibody itself, because it is a protein from another organism, and effects on healthy cells that happen to carry the same antigen. Because of these side effects, and because producing them is demanding, they are not yet as widely used as people hoped when they were first developed. This is a limitation of the technology, not a failure of the underlying idea of specific binding.
What earns the marks
- Monoclonal antibodies can cause more side effects than were originally expected.
- A possible cause is an immune response to the antibody, which is a foreign protein.
- Another possible cause is binding to healthy cells that carry the same antigen.
- Because of these problems, monoclonal antibodies are not yet as widely used as was hoped when they were first developed.
- The limitation concerns their use in treatment, while the principle of specific binding remains valid.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Stating that monoclonal antibodies have no side effects.
Put it right: They can cause more side effects than expected, including immune reactions.
Claiming they are now the main treatment for most diseases.
Put it right: Their use is not yet as widespread as was hoped.
Saying the idea of monoclonal antibodies has been abandoned.
Put it right: The principle still works, but side effects limit how widely they are used.
Exam tips
- Use the phrase more side effects than expected when describing the limitation.
- Give a reason, such as an immune response to the antibody or binding to healthy cells.
- State clearly that they are not yet as widely used as was hoped when first developed.
Try the lesson
The start of the Uses of monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies create more side effects than expected. They are not yet as widely used as everyone hoped when they were first developed. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which statement best describes how monoclonal antibodies have turned out in medical use?
Listen
Monoclonal antibodies were expected to become a major way of treating disease because they can be made to bind one specific target. In practice they cause more side effects than were expected. Possible reasons include an immune response to the antibody itself, because it is a protein from another organism, and effects on healthy cells that happen to carry the same antigen. Because of these side effects, and because producing them is demanding, they are not yet as widely used as people hoped when they were first developed. This is a limitation of the technology, not a failure of the underlying idea of specific binding. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Monoclonal antibodies can cause more side effects than were originally expected. A possible cause is an immune response to the antibody, which is a foreign protein. Another possible cause is binding to healthy cells that carry the same antigen. Because of these problems, monoclonal antibodies are not yet as widely used as was hoped when they were first developed. Exam tip: Use the phrase more side effects than expected when describing the limitation.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Uses of monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies create more side effects than expected. They are not yet as widely used as everyone hoped when they were first developed.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge