Translation — Science definition
The process of reading mRNA codons at a ribosome to build a chain of amino acids.
Where it is taught
- Protein Synthesis — DNA, Inheritance & Gene Expression, Life Science: Biology, Grade 10
In use
Out in the cytoplasm, the mRNA docks with a ribosome, the molecular machine that carries out translation.
Protein Synthesis
Questions using translation
Problem 1
Translation — assembling a protein from mRNA — takes place at the
- cell membrane
- vacuole
- ribosome
- nucleus
Answer and explanation
ribosome
Ribosomes read the mRNA codons and link amino acids together into a protein.
Problem 2
Explain the difference between transcription and translation.
Answer and explanation
Transcription is copying a gene's DNA into mRNA inside the nucleus; translation is reading that mRNA's codons at a ribosome to build a protein from amino acids. Transcription makes the message, and translation reads it.