Video Transcript
Ribosomes are formed from ribosomal
RNA and polypeptides. What role do ribosomes have in a
cell? (A) Controlling what enters and
leaves the cell, (B) providing the site for aerobic respiration, (C) transporting
enzymes around the cell, (D) intracellular signalling, or (E) providing the site for
protein synthesis.
In every living cell, DNA carries
the genetic information that gives the instructions the cell needs to properly
function. These instructions come in the form
of genes which are sections of DNA that can be converted into functional units, such
as proteins. When a gene needs to be converted
into protein, the sequence of DNA must first be converted into a molecule of
messenger RNA or mRNA by transcription. Then, the sequence of mRNA is
converted into a sequence of amino acids or a polypeptide in a process called
translation. This polypeptide can then go on to
fold into a protein with a specific function.
Translation is performed by an
organelle called the ribosome, which is made up of a special kind of RNA called
ribosomal RNA and polypeptides, as indicated in the question. This ribosome can attach to mRNA
and convert its sequence into a sequence of amino acids. This forms a polypeptide, which can
then fold to form a protein. Therefore, the role of the ribosome
in the cell is to provide the site for protein synthesis.
