Which two cell types fuse to form hybridomas?

Which two cell types fuse to form hybridomas?

• A. Plasma cell and a tumor cell
• B. T cell and B cell
• C. Stem cell and fibroblast
• D. Neuron and glial cell

Answer: (A)

Hybridomas are formed by fusing a B cell that produces a specific antibody (a plasma cell) with an immortal tumor cell line (a myeloma cell). The plasma cell provides the antibody-producing capability, while the myeloma cell ensures the resulting hybridoma can divide indefinitely. This combination creates a stable, immortal cell line that secretes a single type of antibody, which is the essence of monoclonal antibody production. Other pairings don’t yield an immortal, antibody-secreting line, so they’re not used to make hybridomas.

Hybridomas are formed by fusing a B cell that produces a specific antibody (a plasma cell) with an immortal tumor cell line (a myeloma cell). The plasma cell provides the antibody-producing capability, while the myeloma cell ensures the resulting hybridoma can divide indefinitely. This combination creates a stable, immortal cell line that secretes a single type of antibody, which is the essence of monoclonal antibody production. Other pairings don’t yield an immortal, antibody-secreting line, so they’re not used to make hybridomas.