Hybridomas is a medical term used to describe cells that are created through the fusion of two different types of cells. The word is pronounced as [hahy-brih-doh-mahs] in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "hy" has the same sound as "high" but without the ending 'g'. The following syllables "brid" and "omas" are pronounced as "brid" and "oh-mahs" respectively. The word "Hybridomas" is commonly used in medical research and has significant implications in the development of new therapies and treatments for diseases.
Hybridomas are specialized cells formed by fusing a specific type of immune cell called a B-cell with a tumor cell. This fusion is typically achieved using laboratory techniques involving the fusion of the two cells using chemicals or viruses. The resultant hybridoma cells possess the unique ability to produce large quantities of a single type of antibody that is derived from the B-cell.
Hybridomas are widely used in biomedical research and diagnostic applications due to their ability to produce monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific and can target a single antigen with high affinity. They have significant applications in various fields, including immunology, biotechnology, and medical diagnostics.
The process of creating hybridomas involves fusing the B-cell, which is capable of producing antibodies specific to an antigen, with a tumor cell that has the property of indefinite cell division. This fusion results in a "hybrid" cell possessing the characteristics of both parent cells. The hybridoma cells can be cultured indefinitely and produce a continuous supply of antibodies that are identical to the original antibody produced by the B-cell.
Hybridomas have revolutionized the production of monoclonal antibodies, enabling the generation of large quantities of specific antibodies for therapeutic purposes, diagnostic tests, and research applications. These antibodies have proven to be valuable tools in the field of medicine and have contributed to advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.
The word "hybridoma" is derived from the combination of two words: "hybrid" and "lymphoma".
The term "hybrid" refers to the fusion of two different entities, in this case, the fusion of two types of cells. In the context of hybridoma technology, it specifically refers to the fusion of a B lymphocyte (a type of white blood cell responsible for producing antibodies) and a myeloma cell (a type of plasma cell cancer).
The word "lymphoma" refers to a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which includes the lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow.
In the 1970s, the technique of producing monoclonal antibodies (a specific type of antibody that is identical and produced by a single clone of cells) was developed by scientists Georges Köhler and César Milstein.