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hybridoma

American  
[hahy-bri-doh-muh] / ˌhaɪ brɪˈdoʊ mə /

noun

Biotechnology.
hybridomas plural
  1. a hybrid cell made in the laboratory by fusing a normal cell with a cancer cell, usually a myeloma or lymphoma, in order to combine desired features of each, as the ability of the cancer cell to multiply rapidly with the ability of the normal cell to dictate the production of a specific antibody.


hybridoma British  
/ ˌhaɪbrəˈdəʊmə /

noun

  1. a hybrid cell formed by the fusion of two different types of cell, esp one capable of producing antibodies, but of limited lifespan, fused with an immortal tumour cell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of hybridoma

First recorded in 1975–80; hybrid + -oma

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The hybridoma secretes monoclonal antibodies that in recent years have excited cancer researchers.

From Washington Times Nov. 5, 2016

The relationship with Michele calmed him and he took over the role of director of the hybridoma bank, growing it from 100 to 4,400 hybridomas over the last 20 years.

From Washington Times Nov. 5, 2016

A quick science lesson: A hybridoma is formed when a B cell is combined with a cancer cell.

From Washington Times Nov. 5, 2016

Davie got in touch with Mallinckrodt Inc., a St. Louis medical supply company also engaged in hybridoma research.

From Time Magazine Archive

But recent developments in medicine, such as the hybridoma cells for cancer treatment and the creation of insulin through genetic engineering, are making the 1980s look boldly promising.

From Time Magazine Archive

"When you make an antibody, you test what are called hybridomas, cells that produce antibodies. We screened thousands before finding the one that worked," Abdel-Mohsen said.

From Science Daily Jan. 15, 2026

The relationship with Michele calmed him and he took over the role of director of the hybridoma bank, growing it from 100 to 4,400 hybridomas over the last 20 years.

From Washington Times Nov. 5, 2016

Among the biggest impacts of B-cell biology was the invention of hybridomas — immortal antibody-producing cell lines.

From Nature Jan. 5, 2015

Potentially as powerful is a process that creates new cells called hybridomas.

From Time Magazine Archive

Others include the fusion of cells, DNA synthesis and the creation of hybridomas, long-lived cells that are designed to produce pure antibodies for use against disease.

From Time Magazine Archive

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