branch migration

branch mi·gra·tion

a process in which the cross-connection around the position where two DNA helices are joined moves along the strands.

branch migration

A term of art referring to the movement of the branch-point of a DNA sequence formed from 2 parent DNA molecules with nearly identical sequences; a zipper-like pairing of 2 homologous DNA strands (branch) during genetic recombination, which slides (migrates) in one direction.