Specificity is achieved through the unique structure of the antibody's variable region, which binds to the antigen. This region is generated through somatic recombination and hypermutation, creating a vast array of antibodies, each with a unique binding site. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which are derived from a single B-cell clone, offer high specificity as they recognize a single epitope. In contrast, polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) are a mixture of antibodies that recognize multiple epitopes on the same antigen, which can sometimes lead to cross-reactivity.
