Which statement about translation is true?

• A. It occurs in the cytoplasm
• B. It takes place in the ribosome with mRNA and tRNA
• C. It uses DNA as a template
• D. It copies RNA from DNA

Answer: (B)

Translation decodes the genetic message carried by mRNA into a polypeptide at the ribosome. The ribosome is the molecular machine where mRNA is read in codons and tRNA brings in the correct amino acids with matching anticodons. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, it links amino acids together with peptide bonds, building the protein in the proper sequence. The key players here are the mRNA as the template and the tRNA as the adaptor that delivers specific amino acids. DNA serves as the template during transcription, not translation, and copying RNA from DNA describes transcription as well. Translation does occur in the cytoplasm, but the essential feature is the ribosome working with mRNA and tRNA to assemble the protein.