Final answer:
Edelman, a biologist and Nobel laureate, discovered that antibodies have a molecular weight of about 150kDa.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edelman, a biologist and Nobel laureate, made important discoveries regarding antibodies. In his research, he discovered that antibodies have a molecular weight of about 150kDa, or kiloDaltons. This finding helped to further understand the structure and function of antibodies. Gerald Edelman made significant contributions to the field of immunology by discovering the structure of the antibody. His work involved studying properties of immunoglobulins, which are key components of the adaptive immune response. The focus of his research was on a specific type of antibody, a 150kDa protein, which laid the groundwork for better understanding antibodies' role in immunity and their utility in research and clinical diagnosis. Edelman and his peers discovered that antibodies have unique structures that allow them to bind specifically to their target antigens. This specificity and ability for custom targeting is what makes antibodies incredibly useful for research and clinical diagnosis. In medicine, antibodies are often used in diagnostic tests to detect the presence of pathogens or diseases by recognizing specific proteins. One property of antibodies that is particularly important for such applications is cross-reactivity. This occurs when an antibody not only reacts with its specific antigen but also with similar antigens. While cross-reactivity can sometimes be an issue, leading to less accurate diagnostics, it can also be strategically exploited in research when broad detection is desired. Antibodies' specificity, variable regions, and ability to cross-react are all properties that make them indispensable tools in scientific research and medicine.