Final answer:
The end replication problem is addressed by telomerase and its RNA template, enabling the extension of chromosome ends and preventing the loss of genetic information during cell division.
Step-by-step explanation:
The end replication problem refers to the inability of DNA polymerase to replicate the very ends of linear chromosomes, which could potentially lead to the loss of genetic information with each round of cell division. This issue is addressed by the action of telomerase, an enzyme that adds repetitive nucleotide sequences to the telomeres, or the ends of chromosomes. Telomerase uses an RNA template that is part of its structure to synthesize new DNA, effectively solving the end replication problem. Okazaki fragments are short stretches of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication, but they are not directly implicated in solving the end replication problem. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 'e. a and b': the end replication problem involves both telomerase and an RNA template to synthesize new DNA.