Scientists tested three monoclonal antibodies, P, Q and R, as possible treatments for a tumour. Each antibody blocks a receptor on any cell to which it binds.
A fluorescent marker was attached to each antibody. Each antibody was added separately to samples of tumour cells and healthy cells. The percentage of cells to which each antibody bound was measured.
The results are shown in the table.
| Monoclonal antibody | Tumour cells to which antibody bound (%) | Healthy liver cells to which antibody bound (%) | Healthy kidney cells to which antibody bound (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | 96 | 5 | 4 |
| Q | 94 | 90 | 7 |
| R | 12 | 3 | 2 |
Evaluate which monoclonal antibody is most suitable for treating the tumour. Use the data and explain how the chosen antibody would affect the cells.
60 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Biology 3.2 Monoclonal antibodies (HT only), covering 3.2.1 Producing monoclonal antibodies and 3.2.2 Uses of monoclonal antibodies. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.