Final answer:
The structure that forms when mRNA is translated by multiple ribosomes in the cytoplasm is called a 4) polyribosome or polysome. It is a critical part of protein synthesis where ribosomes read the genetic code on mRNA to create proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structure that forms in the cytoplasm as mRNA attaches to and is translated by many ribosomes is called a polyribosome or polysome. Ribosomes are the cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis and consist of two subunits, a large and a small subunit.
When an mRNA molecule is ready to be translated, these subunits come together and attach to the mRNA. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, interpreting the genetic code to synthesize a protein, multiple ribosomes can be attached to a single mRNA strand, thereby forming a polyribosome.
In this process, the sequence of nitrogenous bases in the mRNA dictates the specific order of amino acids that will make up a protein. While in prokaryotes, transcription and translation can occur concurrently, eukaryotic cells must first complete RNA synthesis, modulate the RNA molecule, and transport it out of the nucleus before forming polyribosomes in the cytoplasm.
This critical cellular activity involves the coordinated work of the mRNA template, tRNAs, various enzymatic factors, and of course, the ribosomes themselves, which may be free-floating in the cytoplasm or associated with rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER).