Final answer:
The assertion that ionizing radiation can cause DNA double-strand breaks is true. Ionizing radiation can break chemical bonds in DNA and create damaging hydroxyl radicals, leading to significant damage to the genetic material.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that ionizing radiation and oxidative damage can cause DNA double-strand breaks is True. Ionizing radiation has sufficient energy to ionize molecules and break chemical bonds, which can lead to the formation of single-stranded and double-stranded breaks in the DNA molecule. It can also generate hydroxyl radicals upon interaction with water within the cell, which in turn can react with and cause damage to the DNA.
This type of damage is significant because it affects the integrity of the genetic code, which is necessary for proper cell function. Moreover, DNA double-strand breaks are considered to be a highly significant form of damage that can lead to cancer and hereditary diseases. Non-ionizing radiation, however, generally does not cause double-strand breaks but instead can cause other types of DNA damage such as the formation of pyrimidine dimers.