Translation is the process in protein synthesis in which the genetic information encoded in mRNA is translated into sequence of amino acid in polypeptide chain.
Ribosomes bind to mRNA in the cytoplasm and move along the molecule in a 5 prime to 3 prime directon until it reaches a start codon i.e AUG. Anticodons on tRNA molecules align opposite appropriate codons according to complementary base pairing (e.g. AUG = UAC). Each tRNA molecule carries a specific amino acid (according to the genetic code)
. Ribosomes catalyse the formation of peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids (via condensation reactions)
. The ribosome moves along the mRNA molecule synthesising a polypeptide chain until it reaches a stop codon
. At this point translation ceases and the polypeptide chain is released
