携带细菌报告基因转基因小鼠已用于研究体内自发或诱发的基因突变。这种突变分析方法是基于报告基因在适当的宿主菌内重新有效表达上的。转基因小鼠的运用使人们首次将体内的突变机制与其最终的生理效应，如癌变或衰老直接联系起来了。 Transgenic mice harboring bacterial reporter genes have been used to study spontaneous or induced genetic mutations in vivo. This method of mutation analysis is based on the re-efficient expression of the reporter gene in an appropriate host bacterium. The use of transgenic mice has, for the first time, led to the direct link between the in vivo mutation mechanism and its ultimate physiological effects such as carcinogenesis or aging.