Translation

Definition

Translation is the process by which the sequence of nucleotides in messenger RNA (mRNA) is decoded to produce a specific sequence of amino acids, forming a polypeptide chain that folds into a protein. This critical step occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Related terms

Messenger RNA (mRNA): A type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA in the nucleus to ribosomes in the cytoplasm, serving as a template for protein synthesis.

Ribosome:

A cellular structure that functions as the site of protein synthesis, reading mRNA sequences and assembling amino acids into polypeptide chains.

Amino Acid: The building blocks of proteins, consisting of a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and an R group that varies among different amino acids