translation
translation The process in living cells in which the genetic information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) in the form of a sequence of nucleotide triplets (codons) is translated into a sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain during protein synthesis (see illustration). Translation takes place on ribosomes in the cell cytoplasm (see initiation factor). The ribosomes move along the mRNA `reading' each codon in turn. Molecules of transfer RNA (tRNA), each bearing a particular amino acid, are brought to their correct positions along the mRNA molecule: base pairing occurs between the bases of the codons and the complementary base triplets of tRNA (see anticodon). In this way amino acids are assembled in the correct sequence to form the polypeptide chain (see elongation). Translation is terminated by the release factor.
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translation
