The development of hybridoma technology in 1975 by Köhler and Milstein enabled the creation and reproducible production of mouse monoclonal antibodies with defined specificities. This ushered in a new era of basic research, diagnostic, and therapeutic possibilities. During the almost 50 years that have followed those landmark experiments, monoclonal antibody technology has evolved to leverage the unique properties of the immune systems of different species and to incorporate other biotechnological advances, most notably recombinant DNA technology.
