glossary

Homology-directed repair (HDR)

Image of homology directed repair. An initial blue DNA is cleaved in half, and its homologue is able to insert the missing DNA piece.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0

A way for a cell to repair a break in its DNA by “patching” it with a piece of donor DNA. The donor DNA must contain similar sequences, or homology, to the broken DNA ends for it to be incorporated. HDR is a more precise repair pathway than non-homologous end joining. In genome engineering, a researcher designs and adds in the donor DNA, potentially allowing scientists to replace a disease-causing gene with a healthy copy.

« Back to Glossary Index