Coherent band pathways between knots and links

Abstract

We categorize coherent band (aka nullification) pathways between knots and 2-component links. Additionally, we characterize the minimal coherent band pathways (with intermediates) between any two knots or 2-component links with small crossing number. We demonstrate these band surgeries for knots and links with small crossing number. We apply these results to place lower bounds on the minimum number of recombinant events separating DNA configurations, restrict the recombination pathways and determine chirality and/or orientation of the resulting recombinant DNA molecules.