Final answer:
Ribosomes are critical for protein synthesis in cells, comprising rRNA and proteins to translate genetic information from mRNA into amino acids to form proteins. These structures are abundant in cells with high protein production, such as pancreatic cells, and are found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of ribosomes in cells is crucial as they are the cellular structures tasked with protein synthesis. Ribosomes are composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins, forming two distinct components: a large and a small subunit. They bind to messenger RNA (mRNA) and translate the genetic code into the specific sequence of amino acids that will form proteins. These proteins play vital roles in the cell, acting as enzymes, hormones, antibodies, structural components, and more. Ribosomes can be found either floating freely in the cytoplasm or attached to the cytoplasmic side of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where they are involved in synthesizing proteins destined for the Golgi apparatus or secretion.
Ribosomes are particularly abundant in cells that create large amounts of protein, such as those in the pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes. Moreover, the presence of ribosomes is universal in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, although their size and structure may vary. The abundance and strategic location of ribosomes in cells exemplify the concept that form follows function in biological systems.