Glossary

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Translation

Translation of genetic information into proteins.

Translation is the second major step of transmitting genetic information. The first step is copying genetic information from DNA to a mobile strand of mRNA (messenger RNA). This is called transcription. The mRNA then travels to sites of protein synthesis known as ribosomes. At the ribosomes, the genetic code carried by the mRNA is “translated” into a sequence of amino acids that will form the protein product.

Transcription, the first step, essentially maintains the same language - or genetic code. It is simply copied. Translation, on the other hand, goes from the language of nucleic acid bases to the language of amino acids in a protein. tRNA acts as a translator.