Make Entry -- Become an Editor -- Most Popular: (10, 25, 50, 75, 100)

   Help

Reporter Gene

A reporter gene in molecular biology enables researchers to track and study another gene in cell cultures, animals, and plants. Because most gene therapy techniques only work on a small number of individuals, researchers need to use a reporter gene to identify which cells have taken up the gene currently under study, and which have incorporated it into their chromosomes.

A commonly used reporter gene is the one that encodes green fluorescent proteins in jellyfish, which cause cells that have taken it up and expressed it to glow green under an ultraviolet lamp. Luciferase enzyme genes are also commonly used as reporter genes, causing the cell that expresses it to catalyze luciferins and produce light without external interference.

Most reporter genes are placed downstream genetically of the promoter region, but close to the gene under study. This ensures that these genes are expressed together, and are not separated during cell division by crossover events.

Sometimes, reporter genes are simply placed in a vector independent of a chromosome, and other techniques used to identify the gene under study.

Web Resources On Reporter Gene

Molecular Genetics: Reporter Genes
Reporter Gene Assays

Book Resources On Reporter Gene

Gus Protocols: Using the Gus Gene As a Reporter of Gene Expression by Sean R. Gallagher (Ed)
Glowing Genes: A Revolution In Biotechnology by Marc Zimmer

Site Maps: Most Recent | Clusters | Browse
New: Graduate Student Job Opportunity