What is translation?

What is translation?

• A. The synthesis of a protein from an mRNA template at the ribosome
• B. The synthesis of RNA from a DNA template
• C. The modification of proteins in the Golgi
• D. The replication of DNA

Answer: (C)

Translation is the process of turning the genetic message in mRNA into a protein. The ribosome reads each three-nucleotide codon on the mRNA and, with tRNA bringing the matching amino acid, links those amino acids together to form a growing polypeptide. This starts at a start codon, proceeds through elongation, and ends at a stop codon, producing a finished protein that then folds into its functional shape. Translation happens in the cytoplasm on ribosomes (either free or on rough ER) and uses energy from GTP during the process. This step is distinct from transcription, which is making RNA from DNA, and from post-translational processing in the Golgi that happens after translation. DNA replication, meanwhile, is the duplicating of the genome.

Translation is the process of turning the genetic message in mRNA into a protein. The ribosome reads each three-nucleotide codon on the mRNA and, with tRNA bringing the matching amino acid, links those amino acids together to form a growing polypeptide. This starts at a start codon, proceeds through elongation, and ends at a stop codon, producing a finished protein that then folds into its functional shape. Translation happens in the cytoplasm on ribosomes (either free or on rough ER) and uses energy from GTP during the process. This step is distinct from transcription, which is making RNA from DNA, and from post-translational processing in the Golgi that happens after translation. DNA replication, meanwhile, is the duplicating of the genome.