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Mouse Model Strategies & Allele Types

Reporter Gene / Reporter Allele

A reporter gene is an easily detectable genetic marker—such as GFP, LacZ, or luciferase—inserted into a mouse genome to visualize gene expression, monitor cellular activity, or trace lineage in vivo.

Overview

Understanding when, where, and how a gene is expressed is a cornerstone of functional genomics. Reporter mouse models solve this problem by linking gene activity to a visible signal—such as fluorescence, enzymatic activity, or luminescence—enabling researchers to study gene expression dynamically in living organisms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a reporter gene and a reporter allele?

A reporter gene is the detectable marker (such as GFP or LacZ), while a reporter allele refers to the engineered genomic locus where the reporter is inserted to reflect the activity of a specific promoter or gene.

Can reporter genes affect normal gene function?

When carefully integrated into non-coding regions or downstream of regulatory elements, reporter genes usually do not disrupt normal gene function.

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Related Terms

Reporter Readouts (GFP, LacZ, Luc)

Measurable signals—typically fluorescent, enzymatic, or luminescent—produced by genetically encoded reporter genes such as GFP, LacZ, and luciferase. These are integrated into mouse models to visualize gene expression and track cell lineages.

Conditional Knockout (cKO) Mouse Models

A genetically engineered mouse in which a specific gene can be selectively inactivated in chosen tissues, cell types, or developmental stages—enabling precise studies of gene function while avoiding embryonic lethality or systemic effects.

Rosa26 Locus

A well-characterized safe harbor site in the mouse genome, located on chromosome 6. It supports stable and ubiquitous expression of inserted genes without interfering with nearby genomic functions and is the standard integration site for transgenic constructs.

More in Mouse Model Strategies & Allele Types

Knockout (KO) Mouse ModelsConditional Knockout (cKO) Mouse ModelsConventional (Constitutive) Knockout Mouse ModelsKnockin (KI) Mouse ModelsHumanized Mouse Models
Recombination Leakiness (Background Activity)View All TermsReporter Knockin

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