What are the differences between polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies?

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Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation
Polyclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies

Definition
Refer to a combination of immunoglobulin molecules derived by different clones of plasma B cells
Refer to identical immunoglobulins that are derived from a single clone of plasma B cells

Produced by 
Different clones of plasma B cells
The same clone of plasma B cells

Cost to produce
Inexpensive
More expensive

Population of antibodies
Heterogeneous population of antibodies
Homogenous population of antibodies

Production requirement
Hybridoma cell lines are not required
Hybridoma cell lines are required

Origin
Multiple lineages of stimulated B cells
Single lineage of stimulated B cells

Cross reactivity
Higher cross-reactivity due to biophysical diversity
Lower cross-reactivity due to higher specificity

Binding specificity
Recognizes and binds to multiple epitopes on the same antigen
Recognizes and binds to a single epitope on the target antigen

Applications 
Widely used in general research applications
Used mainly for therapeutic purposes

Advantages
Higher antibody affinity, multiple epitope binding, higher tolerance to minor changes in epitope structure, and more robust detection
Batch-to-batch consistency, single-epitope binding, high specificity, high reproducibility

Disadvantages
No single-epitope binding, batch-to-batch variation, higher likelihood of cross-reactivity, higher false positives because of higher sensitivity
Potential to exhibit cell drift over time, low tolerance to minor changes in antigen epitope structure, limited applications because of mono-specificity

Basis of differentiation	Polyclonal antibodies	Monoclonal antibodies
Definition	Refer to a combination of immunoglobulin molecules derived by different clones of plasma B cells	Refer to identical immunoglobulins that are derived from a single clone of plasma B cells
Produced by	Different clones of plasma B cells	The same clone of plasma B cells
Cost to produce	Inexpensive	More expensive
Population of antibodies	Heterogeneous population of antibodies	Homogenous population of antibodies
Production requirement	Hybridoma cell lines are not required	Hybridoma cell lines are required
Origin	Multiple lineages of stimulated B cells	Single lineage of stimulated B cells
Cross reactivity	Higher cross-reactivity due to biophysical diversity	Lower cross-reactivity due to higher specificity
Binding specificity	Recognizes and binds to multiple epitopes on the same antigen	Recognizes and binds to a single epitope on the target antigen
Applications	Widely used in general research applications	Used mainly for therapeutic purposes
Advantages	Higher antibody affinity, multiple epitope binding, higher tolerance to minor changes in epitope structure, and more robust detection	Batch-to-batch consistency, single-epitope binding, high specificity, high reproducibility
Disadvantages	No single-epitope binding, batch-to-batch variation, higher likelihood of cross-reactivity, higher false positives because of higher sensitivity	Potential to exhibit cell drift over time, low tolerance to minor changes in antigen epitope structure, limited applications because of mono-specificity

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