# Translation

Building a protein by reading mRNA. A ribosome moves along the mRNA, and transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring in the amino acids that match each codon through their anticodon.

Biology (university) · Part 04: DNA, transcription and translation · Card 8 of 9 · Last updated 2026-10-19

## Analogy

A translator reading a message word by word and fetching the matching parts.

## In practice

Peptide bonds join the amino acids into a chain that folds into the finished protein.

## Practice

### Flashcards

- **What is the role of tRNA?** It carries the amino acid that matches a codon to the ribosome using its anticodon.

### Interview questions

**Explain how the information in a gene becomes a protein in a eukaryotic cell.**

- Transcription in nucleus makes pre-mRNA
- Splicing removes introns, cap and tail added
- mRNA exits to cytoplasm
- Ribosome reads codons with tRNA
- Amino acids joined and folded

## Questions people ask

### What is the role of the ribosome?

The ribosome is the machine that builds proteins. It has two parts, a large and a small subunit, made of rRNA and protein. It holds the mRNA and tRNAs in place and catalyses the peptide bond between amino acids. The catalytic site is made of RNA.

### What happens at the stop codon?

No tRNA matches a stop codon. Instead, proteins called release factors bind to the ribosome. They trigger the release of the finished polypeptide chain, and the ribosome subunits separate from the mRNA. The chain then folds into its working shape, sometimes with the help of chaperone proteins.

## Related concepts

- [Central dogma](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-university/biology-university-part-4/biology-university-part-4-concept-4)
- [Transcription](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-university/biology-university-part-4/biology-university-part-4-concept-5)
- [RNA splicing](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-university/biology-university-part-4/biology-university-part-4-concept-6)
- [Genetic code](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-university/biology-university-part-4/biology-university-part-4-concept-7)

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