Question

Write about occurence of homologous recombination.

Answer 1

Homologous recombination:

1. It is a type of genetic recombination wherein nucleotide sequences are interchanged between two similar or identical molecules of DNA.
2. It occurs naturally in eukaryotic organisms, bacteria, and viruses and is a strong tool in genetic engineering.
3. It is broadly used by cells to precisely repair harmful breaks that occur on both strands of DNA, also known as double-strand breaks (DSB).
4. This process is known as homologous recombinational repair (HRR).
5. Homologous recombination also creates new pairs of DNA sequences during meiosis, the process by which eukaryotic organisms make germ cells.
6. Such new combinations of DNA enable genetic variation in offspring, which in turn results in evolution.
7. Homologous recombination is also useful in horizontal genetic transfer, which is used in exchanging genetic material between different strains and species of bacteria and viruses.