NEW (2016) AQA AS-Level Biology – Monoclonal Antibodies

This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA AS-level Biology course, particularly the ‘Cells’ module.

For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA A-level Biology course please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience

A-Level lesson format: I teach in more of a lecture style compared to GCSE. In the majority of my A-level lessons the beginning portion of the lesson is mainly teacher-led, where students are expected to take notes onto a handout/in their books. This is then mixed in with student-led activities, as well as questions and exam prep.

You will find some of my slides have blank spaces for you to add more detail/descriptions/explanations. If you look at the ‘Notes’ section underneath each of these slides, you will find additional content which you can add in as you teach!

This lesson on Monoclonal Antibodies and their uses begins with a review of antibodies, plasma b-cells and memory b-cells. Students should also describe the humoral immune response to a pathogen.

Students are then introduced to monoclonal antibodies through description on the slides and a short video. They should take notes and be prepared to fill in a diagram using the statements on the slide. A complete diagram is on the following slide for self-assessment.

The next slides introduce the use of monoclonal antibodies, and then explain how they may be used to target cancer cells, test for pregnancy, and create medical diagnoses. Students will then watch another video which explains pregnancy tests. They will answer a few questions while watching and may self-assess to the answers on the next slide.

Another included task asks students to complete a table explaining how monoclonal antibodies are used in various methods, by using information cards posted throughout the room.

Using this information students will think > pair > share to discuss ethical issues regarding the production of monoclonal antibodies. They will watch three short vidoes to inform their discussion and should include risks, benefits, and impacts on both the individual and society in their answers. Some sample discussion points are available in the notes below the slide.

To consolidate, students will be given a mixture of information cards to sort into a table of advantages and disadvantages of monoclonal antibodies.

The plenary task is to create a three-question quiz to test their peers on today’s lesson.

All resources are included. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)