What is the function of ribosomes during translation?

Ribosomes play a critical role during the process of translation, which is the step in protein synthesis where the information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA) is used to build polypeptides, the building blocks of proteins. Essentially, ribosomes act as the molecular machines that facilitate the decoding of the mRNA sequence into a corresponding amino acid sequence.

During translation, ribosomes bind to the mRNA and move along its length. They read the mRNA in triplet codons, each specifying a particular amino acid. As they read the mRNA, ribosomes bring in transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, which carry amino acids. Each tRNA has an anticodon that pairs with the corresponding mRNA codon, ensuring the correct amino acid is added to the growing polypeptide chain. The ribosome catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between the amino acids, which leads to the synthesis of polypeptides based on the encoded information in the mRNA.

In contrast, other options reference processes that are not directly related to the function of ribosomes during translation. For example, synthesizing DNA from RNA pertains to reverse transcription, which is carried out by specific enzymes rather than ribosomes. Condensing chromosomes relates to cell division and the