Okuzeka
Biology vocabulary · Genetics and Heredity

Translation

Meaning in biology, with examples

/trænsˈleɪʃən/nounCommon term

In biology, translation means: The step of gene expression in which a ribosome reads the codons in messenger RNA and joins the matching amino acids together to build a protein.

In Turkish: translasyon, çeviri

How it is used

Follows transcription. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring amino acids to the ribosome. Translation starts at a start codon (AUG) and ends at a stop codon. The verb is translate: the mRNA is translated into protein.

Example sentences

  1. Many antibiotics stop bacterial growth by blocking translation.

  2. In bacteria, translation can begin before transcription is finished.

Common collocations

  • start codon
  • stop codon
  • translated into protein
  • translation initiation
  • transcriptionThe first step of gene expression, in which the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into a matching strand of RNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase.
  • ribosomeA small structure made of RNA and protein that builds proteins by reading the instructions in messenger RNA. Ribosomes are found in all cells.
  • amino acidOne of the small building blocks that join in chains to make proteins. Living things use 20 common amino acids, each with a different side chain.
  • proteinA large molecule made of one or more chains of amino acids folded into a specific shape. Proteins build cell structures, speed up reactions and carry signals.
  • RNAShort for ribonucleic acid, a usually single-stranded molecule that carries genetic information from DNA and helps build proteins. It contains uracil instead of thymine.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Genetics and Heredity

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: