|Structure of an IgG2 antibody| And it's often not a very
effective method. You have to have many different rabbits to get
one somewhat decent antibody. And even if you do eventually end
up with a monoclonal antibody, it still isn't that reliable, as
the existence of a antibody validation site like AntibodypediA
shows. Work is being undertaken to change both the unreliability
and the animal welfare impact of antibodies. An article I read
recently shows that while this research is still in early
stages, it is getting results. The researchers vary a protein
sequence using a computer database, and then select for binding
efficiency with a column. The proteins are presented on a phage,
which being a biological system can add to genetic variation on
its own and thus improve selection. It also reminded me of work
being done with antivenoms (or antivenins depending on which
flavor of English you speak). Currently antivenoms are obtained
by raising poisonous animals, be they snakes, anthropods, or
whatever. A dangero