Final answer:
DNA is not directly involved in translation because the process involves mRNA template, ribosomes, tRNA, and GTP, which all function in the cytoplasm where proteins are synthesized according to mRNA instructions transcribed from DNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the process of translation, the component that is not directly involved is DNA. The key players in translation include the mRNA template, which carries the genetic code for protein synthesis, the ribosome consists of the small and large subunits that assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain, the tRNA molecules that deliver amino acids to the growing polypeptide, and GTP, which is a source of energy for the process. While DNA contains the original genetic blueprint, translation itself occurs in the cytoplasm where the mRNA, after being transcribed from DNA and processed in the nucleus, directs the assembly of proteins.