Final answer:
Bacterial mRNA is translated quickly due to coupled transcription and translation, resulting in the rapid production of proteins, enabling efficient response to environmental changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is important for mRNA of bacteria to be translated quickly to enable the cells to rapidly respond to their environmental conditions. In bacteria, transcription and translation are coupled processes, meaning that the mRNA is translated by ribosomes as it is being transcribed. This rapid translation is facilitated by the formation of polysomes—multiple ribosomes translating a single mRNA strand concurrently. The result is a swift increase in the concentration of a specific protein essential for the cell's rapid adaptation to environmental signals. Furthermore, the short life of bacterial mRNA ensures that protein synthesis can be quickly halted when not needed, preventing the waste of cellular resources.