Bypassing Hybridomas and Cloning of mab Genes - The VH and VL genes for antibodies can be amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 'universal primers' (universal primers will carry conserved sequences for most antibodies).

By building restriction sites in the above primers, the amplified VH and VL genes can also be cloned directly for expression in mammalian cells or bacteria. The raw material for PCR may be hybridomas or B cells, which may be homogeneous (if derived from single cells) or heterogeneous.

In the latter case, a variety of VH and VL genes will be amplified and will combine at random to produce as many as 106 clones for antibody genes (from 1000 different VH and 1000 different VL genes).