Bi-allelic germline mutations in one of 22 genes (FANCA-FANCW) result in FA, a rare genetic disorder which often leads to progressive bone marrow failure, myelogenous malignancies and squamous cell carcinoma, congenital abnormalities and reduced fertility1–5 (with the exceptions of FANCB, which is X-linked6, and FANCR/RAD51, which is autosomal dominant7). Here, RAD51 is linked to Friedreich ataxia.