The process of translation results in the creation of a polypeptide chain.
In biological terms, translation is the fundamental process where the genetic information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) is used to synthesize proteins. Based on the mechanism described:
- mRNA carries the code: The mRNA molecule contains a sequence of codons, which are three-nucleotide units.
- tRNAs deliver building blocks: Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring specific amino acids to the ribosome.
- Ribosome facilitates assembly: The ribosome acts as the machinery where tRNAs bind to complementary codons on the mRNA.
- Amino acids are linked: As tRNAs enter designated slots in the ribosome, their carried amino acids are chemically bonded together.
The Final Outcome:
As the reference explains: "The end result is a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence mirrors the sequence of codons in the mRNA."
This means the specific order of amino acids in the newly formed polypeptide chain is determined directly by the sequence of codons in the mRNA molecule that was being translated. This polypeptide chain will then often fold into a functional protein or combine with other polypeptides to form a larger protein complex.
Essentially, translation is the decoding process that turns the language of nucleotides (in mRNA codons) into the language of amino acids (in a polypeptide).
