What are the differences between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies?

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