 Homologous recombination is a major DNA repair process in bacteria . It is also important for producing genetic diversity in bacterial populations , although the process differs substantially from meiotic recombination , which repairs DNA damages and brings about diversity in eukaryotic genomes . Homologous recombination has been most studied and is best understood for Escherichia coli . Double @-@ strand DNA breaks in bacteria are repaired by the RecBCD pathway of homologous recombination . Breaks that occur on only one of the two DNA strands , known as single @-@ strand gaps , are thought to be repaired by the RecF pathway . Both the RecBCD and RecF pathways include a series of reactions known as branch migration , in which single DNA strands are exchanged between two intercrossed molecules of duplex DNA , and resolution , in which those two intercrossed molecules of DNA are cut apart and restored to their normal double @-@ stranded state . 
