Final answer:
Reporter genes are used to express and study the effects of recombinant genes and mutations. They encode easily observable characteristics and are attached to genes of interest, allowing researchers to monitor their expression patterns and gain insights into gene function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reporter genes have been used extensively for expressing and studying the effects of recombinant genes and mutations. These reporter genes encode easily observable characteristics and are attached to genes of interest, allowing researchers to monitor their expression patterns and gain important insights into gene function. For example, bacterial lacZ and the gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) are commonly used reporter genes.