What is Homologous Recombination?
Homologous recombination is a natural DNA sequence exchange mechanism, which can take place in any living cell. The mechanism is based on recognition and exchange between two similar nucleotide sequences. Once the homologous sequences are paired, a strand exchange takes place between the two molecules: this event is homologous recombination. This principle has been demonstrated and reproduced extensively in a wide variety of organisms (yet its success varies with the species to which it is applied). Nonetheless, today, homologous recombination is the leading technology in rational genome engineering (≥’activation10 000 publications to date). Many fundamental discoveries in biology have taken place with the help of homologous recombination. Homologous recombination is a method of making site directed insertions, deletions or replacements of DNA in a living organism.
