TALENs operate by recognizing specific DNA sequences through their TALE domains, which can be engineered to bind to virtually any sequence. Once bound, the nuclease domain introduces a double-strand break (DSB) in the DNA. The cell then repairs this break using either non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). NHEJ often results in insertions or deletions (indels), leading to mutations, while HR can be used to introduce precise changes or correct mutations.
