Question

Reporter genes are used to report on the expression of the gene of interest. Please select all correct statements regarding how reporter genes are engineered by recombinant DNA technology. Multiple correct answers are possible, and partial credit will be given.

	A.	A reporter gene can be engineered by transcriptional fusion where the reporter is fused to the promoter of the gene of interest so that regulatory proteins which activate the transcription of the the gene of interest will also activate the transcription of the reporter gene.
	B.	Expression of reporter genes, depending on which gene is used, can be detected by color change (such as X-gal cleavage and blue color), emission of light (luciferase), or fluorescence (GFP).
	C.	A reporter gene can be engineered by translational fusion where the reporter is fused to the gene of interest so that when the gene of interest is expressed, its transcript will also contain the coding sequence of the reporter gene and both genes will be translated.
	D.	A translational fusion reporter gene is actually a fusion of two genes, the reporter and the gene of interest.
	E.	A transcriptional fusion reporter gene is only transcribed but not translated.

Answer 1

The true statements for reporter genes are

B.	Expression of reporter genes, depending on which gene is used, can be detected by color change (such as X-gal cleavage and blue color), emission of light (luciferase), or fluorescence (GFP).
	C.	A reporter gene can be engineered by translational fusion where the reporter is fused to the gene of interest so that when the gene of interest is expressed, its transcript will also contain the coding sequence of the reporter gene and both genes will be translated.
	D.	A translational fusion reporter gene is actually a fusion of two genes, the reporter and the gene of interest.