Meiotic recombination protein REC8 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the REC8 gene. Rec8 is a meiosis-specific component of the cohesin complex that binds sister chromatids in preparation for the two divisions of meiosis. Rec8 is sequentially removed from sister chromatids. It is removed from the arms of chromosomes in the first division - separating homologous chromosomes from each other. However, Rec8 is maintained at centromeres so that sister chromatids are kept joined until anaphase of meiosis II, at which point removal of remaining cohesin leads to the separation of sister chromatids.