Practice question

Homologous recombination depends on extensive sequence homology, dozens to hundreds of base pairs, and requires RecA/Rad51 mediated homology search. Site-specific recombination operates by entirely different logic. It uses specialized recombinases recognizing short 20-200 base-pair asymmetric attachment sites such as loxP, attP/attB, or FRT, assembling synaptic tetramers that perform concerted strand cleavage, exchange, and ligation without need for long homology, DNA synthesis, or RecA. Reaction specificity relies on DNA bending proteins like IHF, and outcome depends solely on relative orientation of sites enabling excision, inversion, or integration.