Efficient Homozygous Gene Conversion in Embryos via RAD51-Enhanced Interhomolog Repair

In this study we demonstrate frequent interhomolog repair in the early mouse embryo and identify several factors, including the homologous recombination-associated protein RAD51, that can enhance this process of converting heterozygous alleles to homozygous alleles. These findings have implications for both basic DNA repair mechanisms in the early embryo, as well as future applications in therapeutic gene editing and generation of disease models.