division of meiosis. In humans, a common variant of the MLH1 gene is associated with increased risk of sperm damage and male infertility.

MLH1 protein appears to localize to sites of crossing over in meiotic chromosomes. Recombination during meiosis is often initiated by a DNA double-strand break (DSB) as illustrated in the accompanying diagram. During recombination, sections of DNA at the 5' ends of the break are cut away in a process called resection. In the strand invasion step that