The homologous recombination pathway facilitates highly accurate DSB repair by using homologous sequences on the sister chromatid as a replication template during repair4. Because of the need for a sister chromatid to be present, homologous recombination has a limited role in G1 and is the predominant pathway during S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Recent evidence supports the notion that this is achieved through active control of the capacity to catalyze homologous recombination throughout the cell cycle. This active control takes place at the initiation step of homologous recombination, which entails nucleolytic resection of the DSB ends to generate single-stranded DNA with 3′ termini5. These termini subsequently serve to prime replication after strand invasion of the intact homologous duplex.