What Does NHEJ Stand For?

NHEJ stands for Nonhomologous End Joining

NHEJ, or Nonhomologous End Joining, is a crucial DNA repair mechanism that facilitates the direct ligation of broken DNA ends without the need for a homologous template. This process is essential for maintaining genomic stability, particularly in response to double-strand breaks caused by environmental factors or cellular activities. NHEJ is characterized by its speed and efficiency, making it a primary pathway for repairing DNA damage in eukaryotic cells, although it can sometimes lead to insertions or deletions at the repair site.