Final answer:
Translation, the process of protein synthesis, occurs in the cytoplasm of cells where ribosomes are located. In eukaryotic cells, this process is separated from transcription by the nuclear membrane, requiring mRNA transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
Step-by-step explanation:
In eukaryotic cells, translation is the process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins using the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). This process takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell, where ribosomes are found. After RNA transcription occurs in the nucleus, the mRNA is transported to the cytoplasm. Translation involves reading the genetic code on the mRNA to produce a specific sequence of amino acids, thus forming a protein.
It is important to note that in prokaryotic cells, translation can begin before transcription has finished because both processes occur in the cytoplasm. However, in eukaryotic cells, the nuclear membrane physically separates the transcription process in the nucleus from the translation process in the cytoplasm. Therefore, translation in eukaryotic cells can only begin after the mRNA has been fully processed and transported out of the nucleus to the cytoplasmic ribosomes.