Fusion between a plasma cell and a tumor cell creates a
a. Myeloma
b. Natural killer cell
c. Lymphoblast
d. Lymphoma
e. Hybridoma
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is e. Hybridoma.
Explanation:
A hybridoma is a type of hybrid cell that results from the fusion of two distinct cell types—typically a plasma cell and a tumor cell (often a myeloma cell). This fusion process combines the characteristics of both parent cells, resulting in a cell that can both produce a specific antibody (like the plasma cell) and divide indefinitely (like the tumor cell). Hybridomas are most commonly used in the field of immunology for the production of monoclonal antibodies.
The Fusion Process:
- Plasma Cell: Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies. These cells are part of the immune response and are highly specialized in generating antibodies that bind to specific antigens (foreign molecules or pathogens).
- Myeloma Cell: A myeloma cell is a type of cancerous B-cell that divides uncontrollably. Myeloma cells are used in the fusion process because they have the ability to proliferate indefinitely, which is crucial for the long-term production of antibodies.
When these two cells are fused together using a chemical or electrical technique, the result is a hybridoma—a single cell that has the ability to:
- Produce antibodies (from the plasma cell).
- Grow and divide indefinitely (from the myeloma cell).
This hybridoma is capable of producing large quantities of a single type of antibody, known as a monoclonal antibody, which can be purified and used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Monoclonal antibodies have a wide range of applications, including cancer treatment, autoimmune diseases, and diagnostic tests.
Other Options:
- a. Myeloma: A cancerous cell that originates from plasma cells but is not involved in the fusion process that produces hybridomas.
- b. Natural killer cell: A type of immune cell involved in the destruction of infected or cancerous cells, not related to the fusion of plasma and tumor cells.
- c. Lymphoblast: An immature lymphocyte (B or T cell) that is not the result of fusion between a plasma and tumor cell.
- d. Lymphoma: A cancer of lymphatic cells, not related to hybridoma formation.
Thus, hybridomas are crucial for the development of monoclonal antibodies and are the result of the fusion of plasma and tumor cells.