Which process describes the decoding of mRNA to produce a protein?

Which process describes the decoding of mRNA to produce a protein?

• A. Transcription
• B. Translation
• C. Replication
• D. Mutagenesis

Answer: (B)

The process that describes the decoding of mRNA to produce a protein is translation. During translation, the information carried by the mRNA, which is transcribed from DNA, is read by ribosomes in the cytoplasm. The ribosomes facilitate the assembly of amino acids into a polypeptide chain, following the sequence dictated by the mRNA. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules play a crucial role in this process by bringing the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome as they match the codons on the mRNA. This process is essential for gene expression, as it transforms the genetic code from nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) into the functional products of proteins, which perform a vast array of tasks within the cell. Understanding translation is foundational to molecular biology because it connects the genetic information stored in DNA with the phenotypic traits represented by proteins. In contrast, transcription refers to the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template, replication involves the copying of DNA for cell division, and mutagenesis refers to the process that leads to changes in the DNA sequence, which may alter gene function. Each of these processes plays a different role in cellular function and genetics, further highlighting the specificity of translation in the context of protein synthesis.

The process that describes the decoding of mRNA to produce a protein is translation. During translation, the information carried by the mRNA, which is transcribed from DNA, is read by ribosomes in the cytoplasm. The ribosomes facilitate the assembly of amino acids into a polypeptide chain, following the sequence dictated by the mRNA. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules play a crucial role in this process by bringing the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome as they match the codons on the mRNA.

This process is essential for gene expression, as it transforms the genetic code from nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) into the functional products of proteins, which perform a vast array of tasks within the cell. Understanding translation is foundational to molecular biology because it connects the genetic information stored in DNA with the phenotypic traits represented by proteins.

In contrast, transcription refers to the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template, replication involves the copying of DNA for cell division, and mutagenesis refers to the process that leads to changes in the DNA sequence, which may alter gene function. Each of these processes plays a different role in cellular function and genetics, further highlighting the specificity of translation in the context of protein synthesis.