Enables chromatin binding activity and single-stranded DNA binding activity. Involved in telomere maintenance via recombination and telomere maintenance via telomere lengthening. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including DNA metabolic process; cellular response to hydroxyurea; and chromosome organization. Located in chromosome, telomeric region; cytoplasm; and lateral element. Is expressed in several structures, including brain; compacted morula; gonad; hemolymphoid system; and paravertebral ganglion. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Fanconi anemia complementation group R; breast cancer; congenital mirror movement disorder; and ovarian cancer. Orthologous to human RAD51 (RAD51 recombinase). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]