MONOCLONAL Meaning and
Definition
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Monoclonal is an adjective with distinct meanings in different contexts, primarily used in the fields of biotechnology, medicine, and immunology. In these disciplines, it primarily refers to a type of antibody or a specific cell population.
In the field of immunology, monoclonal antibodies are proteins produced by identical immune cells, called clones, that have been derived from a single parent cell. These antibodies are uniform and specifically target a particular antigen, contributing to their use in diagnostics, therapies, and research. Monoclonal antibodies have paved the way for many medical advancements, including targeted cancer therapies, immunotherapy, and diagnostic tests.
In biotechnology, monoclonal pertains to a genetically identical population of cells or organisms derived from a single cell or organism. For instance, monoclonal cell lines are laboratory-grown cultures of cells that are genetically identical to each other, serving as a consistent and reliable model for research and drug development.
Furthermore, monoclonal can describe the origin or nature of cells or tumors that arise from a single clone, such as in the case of monoclonal gammopathy, a condition characterized by the presence of a single abnormal clone of plasma cells producing excessive amounts of a specific antibody.
Overall, "monoclonal" refers to the uniformity, identical nature, or specific origin of cells, antibodies, or organisms, often with relevance to their applications in immunology, biotechnology, and medical research.
Top Common Misspellings for MONOCLONAL *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for MONOCLONAL
- nonoclonal
- konoclonal
- jonoclonal
- minoclonal
- mknoclonal
- mlnoclonal
- mpnoclonal
- m0noclonal
- m9noclonal
- moboclonal
- momoclonal
- mojoclonal
- mohoclonal
- moniclonal
- monkclonal
- monlclonal
- monoclonel
- Monoclineal
- monoclunial
- monoccional
Etymology of MONOCLONAL
The word "monoclonal" has its etymology rooted in two parts: "mono" and "clonal".
1. "Mono" derives from the Greek word "monos", meaning "single" or "alone". In English, it is used as a prefix to indicate "one" or "single".
2. "Clonal" is derived from the Greek word "klon", meaning "twig" or "branch". In biology, it refers to a group of cells or organisms originating from a single ancestor or being genetically identical because they are derived from a single cell.
Combining the two components, "monoclonal" literally means "consisting of a single clone". The term is primarily used in the context of monoclonal antibodies, which are produced by a single type of immune cell and are identical in structure and specific to a particular antigen.
Similar spelling words for MONOCLONAL
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