Translation
Definition
Translation is the process in which ribosomes in a cell's cytoplasm create proteins, following the instructions coded in mRNA.
Analogy
Think of translation like a chef (the ribosome) cooking a meal (protein) using a recipe (mRNA). The chef reads the recipe and assembles the ingredients (amino acids) to create the dish.
Related terms
Codon: A codon is a sequence of three DNA or RNA nucleotides that corresponds with a specific amino acid or stop signal during protein synthesis.
Amino Acid: These are organic compounds that combine to form proteins. They are essentially the building blocks of life.
Protein Synthesis: This is the process by which individual cells construct proteins. It includes two main stages - transcription and translation.
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