How does translation function in protein synthesis?

Translation is the process by which the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA is converted into a sequence of amino acids in a protein.

During translation, the ribosome reads the mRNA sequence in groups of three nucleotides called codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, which is brought to the ribosome by a transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule. The tRNA has an anticodon that matches the codon on the mRNA, allowing it to bind to the ribosome and deliver the correct amino acid.

As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, it adds each amino acid to the growing chain in the correct order dictated by the mRNA sequence. This process continues until the ribosome reaches a stop codon, at which point the protein is complete and is released from the ribosome.

Translation is a highly regulated process that is essential for the proper functioning of cells. Errors in translation can lead to the production of non-functional or even harmful proteins, and can contribute to a variety of diseases. Researchers are studying translation in detail in order to better understand how it works and how it can be targeted for therapeutic purposes.