What is a hybridoma cell?

A hybridoma cell is specifically created through the fusion of a mouse B-lymphocyte with a tumor cell. This process is crucial in the field of immunology, particularly for the production of monoclonal antibodies. The B-lymphocyte is a type of immune cell that produces antibodies, while the tumor cell is typically a myeloma cell, which is a cancer cell that can proliferate indefinitely.

By combining these two types of cells, the resulting hybridoma cell inherits the ability to produce a specific antibody from the B-lymphocyte while gaining the capability to replicate continuously from the tumor cell. This unique combination allows for the production of large quantities of a single type of antibody, which can be used in various diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

The other options do not accurately describe hybridoma cells. For instance, the fusion of a plant cell with an animal cell is not related to the concept of hybridomas. Isolated cancer cells do not exhibit the properties of hybridomas, as they don't combine the antibody production capabilities with indefinite growth. Lastly, while some blood cells are used in vaccines, they are not hybridomas, which are specifically engineered for targeted antibody development.