Microbiology Practice Exam 2025 - Free Microbiology Practice Questions and Study Guide

Translation, the process of synthesizing proteins from messenger RNA (mRNA), primarily occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. During this process, ribosomes, which can either be free-floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum, read the sequence of the mRNA and use it as a template to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain, ultimately folding into a functional protein.

The nucleus is involved in transcription, where DNA is transcribed into mRNA, but it is not the site of translation. The endoplasmic reticulum does have ribosomes attached to it, particularly the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and it plays a role in processing and transporting newly synthesized proteins, yet the translation occurs at the ribosome sites within the cytoplasm. The Golgi apparatus is responsible for modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins for secretion or use within the cell, but it does not synthesize proteins itself.

Therefore, the cytoplasm is identified as the correct location for translation, where ribosomes facilitate protein synthesis as the primary active site.