Final answer:
The process by which the 16S rRNA of the ribosome prevents elongation until a mispaired tRNA is released from the A site is known as the proofreading function, crucial for maintaining high translation fidelity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 16S rRNA of the ribosome will prevent elongation until a mispaired tRNA is released from the A site.
This process is termed the proofreading function of the ribosome, and is important in maintaining high fidelity in translation.
At each step of elongation, an incoming tRNA enters the A site, and if correctly paired, the peptide bond formation occurs.
If a mismatch with the mRNA is detected, the incorrect tRNA is expelled, ensuring that only correct amino acids are added to the growing polypeptide chain.
This essential feature of the ribosome improves the accuracy of protein synthesis, thereby maintaining the integrity of cellular functions.