The protein encoded by this gene is essential for meiotic homologous recombination. Genetic recombination in meiosis plays an important role in generating diversity of genetic information. The product of this gene is structurally and evolutionary related to the products of the yeast RAD51 and E. coli RecA genes. Alternative splice variants of this gene have been described but their full-length nature has not been determined. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
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