Alternatives to Hybridoma Technology for Monoclonal Antibodies - In recent years, techniques have been developed, which allow production of monoclonal antibodies without hybridomas or even without the help of animals used for providing cells (lymphocytes and myeloma cells). For instance, antibody genes can be isolated from lymphocytes of immunized animals and then cloned and expressed in bacteria. The antibodies produced in bacteria under the control of cloned genes can be screened for binding to specific antigens. Thus, while hybridoma technology can immortalize antibody producing cells, gene technology immortalizes antibody producing genes. Computer graphic techniques are also being used to build specific antigen binding sites in antibodies. Using this approach some designer antibodies of practical value has already been produced. In this latter strategy, genes are not really cloned from lymphocytes, but are instead designed from a repertoire of antibody genes available in a collection.