Where does translation occur?

Where does translation occur?

• A. Nucleus of the cell
• B. Mitochondria
• C. Ribosomes in the cytoplasm
• D. Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer: (C)

Translation uses ribosomes to convert the information in mRNA into a polypeptide. In most cells, ribosomes are the molecular machines that read the mRNA codons and add the corresponding amino acids. They can be free floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The nucleus is where transcription happens, not translation. Mitochondria have their own ribosomes for certain mitochondrial proteins, but the bulk of translation occurs at cytoplasmic ribosomes. The endoplasmic reticulum houses ribosomes that translate proteins destined for secretion or membranes, but the general site for translation described here is ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

Translation uses ribosomes to convert the information in mRNA into a polypeptide. In most cells, ribosomes are the molecular machines that read the mRNA codons and add the corresponding amino acids. They can be free floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The nucleus is where transcription happens, not translation. Mitochondria have their own ribosomes for certain mitochondrial proteins, but the bulk of translation occurs at cytoplasmic ribosomes. The endoplasmic reticulum houses ribosomes that translate proteins destined for secretion or membranes, but the general site for translation described here is ribosomes in the cytoplasm.