Marker gene

A marker gene is used in molecular biology to determine if a piece of DNA has been successfully inserted into the host organism. There are two types of marker genes: selectable markers and markers for screening.

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A selectable marker will protect the organism from a selective agent that would normally kill it or prevent its growth. In most applications, only one in a several million or billion cells will take up DNA. Rather than checking every single cell, scientists use a selective agent to kill all cells that do not contain the foreign DNA, leaving only the desired ones.

Antibiotics are the most common selective agents. In bacteria, antibiotics are used almost exclusively. In plants, antibiotics that kill the chloroplast are often used as well, although tolerance to salts and growth-inhibiting hormones is becoming more popular. In mammals, resistance to antibiotics that would kill the mitochondria is used as a selectable marker.

A marker for screening will make cells containing the gene look different. There are three types of screening commonly used:

• Green fluorescent protein makes cells glow green under UV light. A specialized microscope is required to see individual cells. Yellow and red versions are also available, so scientists can look at multiple genes at once. It is commonly used to measure gene expression.
• GUS assay (using β-glucuronidase) is an excellent method for detecting a single cell by staining it blue without using any complicated equipment. The drawback is that the cells are killed in the process. It is particularly common in plant science.
• Blue/white screening is used in bacteria. The lacZ gene makes cells turn blue in special media (e.g. X-gal). A colony of cells with the gene can be seen with the naked eye.