The term "monoclonal" refers to something that is identical, or at least very similar, in all aspects. It comes from the Greek words "mono," which means single or alone, and "klonos," which means branch. In biology, monoclonal refers to a group of cells or organisms that are genetically identical because they were derived from a single ancestor cell or organism. This is in contrast to the normal process of reproduction where offspring have different genetic makeup than their parents due to random combinations of DNA during meiosis and fertilization. Monoclonal antibodies, for example, are laboratory-made molecules that can bind to specific targets on cells or tissues, and they all belong to the same "family" in terms of their structure and function.