Final answer:
Intercalating agents increase the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges by disrupting the DNA double helix and causing DNA polymerase to introduce deletions or insertions during replication, leading to frameshift mutations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Agents that induce chromosome damage such as intercalating agents increase the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges. Intercalating agents are molecules that slide between the stacked nitrogenous bases of the DNA double helix, disrupting the molecule and creating atypical spacing between nucleotide base pairs. This can lead to DNA polymerase introducing either a deletion or an insertion during DNA replication, resulting in frameshift mutations.