Final answer:
During each round of replication, the telomeres at the ends of linear chromosomes get progressively shorter. Cells address this problem by using an enzyme called telomerase, which adds complementary bases to the DNA strand and lengthens the lagging strand template.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ends of the linear chromosomes are known as telomeres, which have repetitive sequences that do not code for a particular gene. During each round of replication, the telomeres get progressively shorter as cells continue to divide. To address this problem, cells use an enzyme called telomerase. Telomerase attaches to the end of the chromosome and adds complementary bases to the DNA strand using an RNA template. This lengthens the lagging strand template, allowing DNA polymerase to add nucleotides that are complementary to the ends of the chromosomes.