What are the differences between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Monoclonal antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies

Definition

Refer to a homogenous population of antibodies that are produced by a single clone of plasma B cells

Refer to a complex mixture of several antibodies that are produced by different B-cell clones of an animal

Type of population

Are homogeneous antibody populations

Are heterogeneous antibody populations

Origin

Originate from the same clone of plasma B cells

Originate from different clones of plasma B cells

Synthesis

Production requires hybridoma cell lines

Production does not require hybridoma cell lines

Binding specificity

Recognize a single epitope on a target antigen

Recognize multiple epitopes on a target antigen

Sensitivity

Better for protein quantitation

High for low-quantity proteins

Cross-reactivity

Lower due to high specificity

Higher due to biophysical diversity

Cost to produce

More expensive

Inexpensive

Basis of differentiation	Monoclonal antibodies	Polyclonal antibodies
Definition	Refer to a homogenous population of antibodies that are produced by a single clone of plasma B cells	Refer to a complex mixture of several antibodies that are produced by different B-cell clones of an animal
Type of population	Are homogeneous antibody populations	Are heterogeneous antibody populations
Origin	Originate from the same clone of plasma B cells	Originate from different clones of plasma B cells
Synthesis	Production requires hybridoma cell lines	Production does not require hybridoma cell lines
Binding specificity	Recognize a single epitope on a target antigen	Recognize multiple epitopes on a target antigen
Sensitivity	Better for protein quantitation	High for low-quantity proteins
Cross-reactivity	Lower due to high specificity	Higher due to biophysical diversity
Cost to produce	More expensive	Inexpensive