Final answer:
The statement is true because during homologous recombination for DNA repair, a 3′ overhang can invade the homologous DNA duplex and serve as a primer for repair DNA polymerase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is True. During DNA repair involving homologous recombination, the 3′ overhang does invade the homologous DNA duplex to find a complementary sequence. This process is facilitated by the protein RecA, which helps the 3′ end of the single-stranded DNA to align with and invade a homologous region of the double-stranded DNA. The exposed 3′ end then serves as a primer for repair DNA polymerase, which allows the repair of the DNA sequence.
In DNA replication, both the leading and lagging strands are synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction. The leading strand is synthesized continuously using a single primer, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short Okazaki fragments, each requiring a new primer to begin synthesis. Enzymes like DNA polymerase III, DNA ligase, and RNA primase play critical roles in this process. These primers are eventually replaced by DNA, with DNA ligase sealing the final nicks to complete the DNA molecule.