sˈɪns ðɛɹ ɪz nˈoʊ dɪtˈɛktəbəl dʒˌiːjˌuːˈɛs æktˈɪvᵻɾi ɪn hˈaɪɚ plˈænts, mˈɔsᵻz, ˈælɡiː, fˈɜːnz, fˈʌŋɡi ænd mˈoʊst bæktˈɪɹiə, ðɪ ɐsˈeɪ ɪz aɪdˈiəli sˈuːɾᵻd fɔːɹ dʒˈiːn ɛkspɹˈɛʃən stˈʌdiz ɪn ðiːz ˈɔːɹɡənˌɪzəmz, ænd kənsˈɪdɚd ðə ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾɚ dʒˈiːn ʌv tʃˈɔɪs fɔːɹ ɪn plˈænt sˈaɪəns.
Since there is no detectable GUS activity in higher plants, mosses, algae, ferns, fungi and most bacteria, the assay is ideally suited for gene expression studies in these organisms, and considered the reporter gene of choice for in plant science.