Reportergenomics

In genetic engineering, a reporter gene is one that codes for a product that is easy to measure by recent technology. For instance, luciferase is easily detectable because it is luminescent.

The reason why reporter genes are worth blogging is that it is now quite simple to "copy and paste" single genes with known function(s) in and out of most any organism via recombinant DNA. Thus, combining reporter genes with other cellular elements, allows contextual, system-level, space-temporal measurements of molecular functions in living cells/organisms. The art of reportergenomic patchwork might facilitate understanding of our inner biology in the context of normal physiology as well as in disease. The very limitation of reporter design is the creativity of the synthetic biologist.

As technology evolves, the reporter toolbox increase in terms of new proteins and new detection methods. This blog collects updated information from separate fields like optics, physics, pharmacology, chemistry and medicine. More than 50 peer-reviewed journals are scrutinized to distill new knowledge and promote the development of this new field.

If you wish to get involved, or share any hot news about genetically-encoded knowledge, you can play the referee game, add your comment, put me in your blogrool/tweet, submit a guest post, or directly contact me at:info@reportergene.com.

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