Monoclonal antibodies arise from which of the following?

Monoclonal antibodies arise specifically from a single rapidly dividing B cell. This means that the antibodies produced are identical and recognize the same antigen, as they originate from one clone of B cells. The process begins when a specific B cell, which has been activated by exposure to an antigen, is fused with a myeloma (cancer) cell. This hybrid cell can then divide indefinitely and produce large quantities of identical antibodies, known as monoclonal antibodies.

This singular origin is what distinguishes monoclonal antibodies from polyclonal antibodies, which are produced by multiple B cell clones in response to an antigen. Monoclonal antibodies are valuable in research, diagnostics, and therapy due to their specificity and consistency, which are derived from their uniform origin.