The Wellcome Foundation Lecture, 1980: monoclonal antibodies from hybrid myelomas

When the lymphoid cells from immunized animals are fused with myeloma cells adapted to grow permanently in culture, hybrid cells can be isolated that are capable of permanent growth in culture, or as transplantable myeloma tumour in animals, and that at the same time express the antibodies of the immunized donor. Such hybrid cells can be cloned and the antibody produced by each clone is monoclonal. By this procedure therefore it is possible to dissect the heterogeneous immune response of an animal. The monoclonal antibodies can be permanently produced in unlimited quantities and the products are well defined chemical entities, unlike antibodies prepared in animals, which vary from animal to animal and even in different periods within a single animal. These properties have been of great importance in the use of antibodies as biochemical reagents in basic research in a variety of fields. They are also replacing conventional antibodies in standard laboratory practice.