Translation refers to the processing of an mRNA script into a protein. This process utilizes ribosomes and tRNA. In translation, messenger RNA (which is produced by transcription from DNA) is decoded by a ribosome to produce a specific amino acid chain, or polypeptide. The polypeptide is later folded into an active protein.

Translation is the process of creating protein from an mRNA template, and consists of initiation, elongation, and termination. Modification of protein strands may occur after translation, but the three defined steps of translation are initiation, elongation, and termination. Many types of transcribed RNA, such as tRNA, rRNA (ribosomal), and small nuclear RNA, do not undergo translation in order to become functional proteins.

Protein synthesis starts in the nucleus with transcription. Transcription is the process where DNA is transcribed into mRNA. Translation occurs in the cytoplasm within ribosomes where mRNA is translated and becomes a protein with the help of rRNA and tRNA.

tRNA is responsible for bringing individual amino acids to the ribosome in order to be incorporated into the protein. It has an anticodon that attaches to a specific codon found on the mRNA. Once the tRNA and mRNA are bound, a peptide bond if formed between the amino acid residue from the tRNA and the amino acid chain on the ribosome. This is how amino acids are added to the growing protein.

The small subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes is 40S and the large subunit is 60S. These combine to form the ribosome, which is 80S in sedimentary size.

For prokaryotes, the ribosome subunits are 30S and 50S to form a total of 70S total unit.

At the beginning of translation, mature mRNA will travel into the cytosol and attach to the small ribosomal subunit first. This signals the larger subunit to come and attach in order to begin elongation of the polypeptide.

Note that ribosomes do not have an "active site." Active sites are the region of a protein that will bind a substrate and initiate a catalytic change. Ribosomes are not proteins; they are composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and thus do not have active sites.

During translation, the ribosome binds to mRNA and to the appropriate tRNAs. On the ribosome, the mRNA condons are translated into the amino acid sequence of a protein with the help of the tRNA anticodons.

Transcription refers to the synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template. Transformation occurs when a bacterium is able to absorb and incorporate genetic material from the extracellular environment. Transfusion is the transfer of blood from a donor to a recipient. Transfection is the infection of bacteria by phage DNA.

The tRNA carries the amino acid specified by its anticodon. The anticodon base pairs with the codon on the mRNA to ensure the correct amino acid is added to the new protein that is being made. Thus there is a specific tRNA for each codon.

Ribosomes are made up of rRNA and proteins. rRNA synthesis, and ribosome assembly takes place in the nucleolus. 

Transfer RNA—tRNA—is a small folded RNA molecule (i.e. 80-90 nucleotides in length) utilized during translation. On the other hand, tRNA serves as a link between the messenger RNA—mRNA—and the growing protein’s amino acid sequence. The tRNA carries an amino acid to the ribosome directed by the mRNA’s codon—a three-nucleotide sequence. The tRNA carries an anticodon, which is also a three-nucleotide sequence that matches the genetic code, which complements the mRNA. Last, rRNA is associated with the ribosome.