Where does translation occur?

Where does translation occur?

• A. In the nucleus
• B. On ribosomes in the cytoplasm
• C. In chloroplasts
• D. In the endoplasmic reticulum

Answer: (B)

Translation is the process of turning the code in mRNA into a polypeptide, and it happens at ribosomes. In most cells, these ribosomes are in the cytoplasm—either free-floating or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The nucleus handles transcription, not translation. While chloroplasts (and mitochondria) have their own ribosomes and can translate some of their own proteins, the majority of cellular protein synthesis occurs on cytoplasmic ribosomes. The endoplasmic reticulum hosts ribosomes for proteins that are secreted or membrane-bound, but the actual assembly of amino acids into a protein happens at ribosomes, mainly in the cytoplasm. So translation occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

Translation is the process of turning the code in mRNA into a polypeptide, and it happens at ribosomes. In most cells, these ribosomes are in the cytoplasm—either free-floating or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The nucleus handles transcription, not translation. While chloroplasts (and mitochondria) have their own ribosomes and can translate some of their own proteins, the majority of cellular protein synthesis occurs on cytoplasmic ribosomes. The endoplasmic reticulum hosts ribosomes for proteins that are secreted or membrane-bound, but the actual assembly of amino acids into a protein happens at ribosomes, mainly in the cytoplasm. So translation occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm.