Final answer:
The process of using mRNA to produce a polypeptide with the aid of a ribosome is known as Translation, which is the correct answer to the question (B. Translation). Translation consists of initiation, elongation, and termination phases, and results in the synthesis of a protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
Protein Synthesis: Transcription and Translation
The process by which an mRNA, with the aid of the ribosome, is used in the production of a polypeptide is known as Translation. Translation occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell where the mRNA transcript, previously created during Transcription in the nucleus, is decoded to produce a protein. This is a multi-step process involving the initiation where the ribosome binds to the mRNA, the elongation where tRNA molecules bring amino acids to the ribosome and match their anticodons with the mRNA codons, and the termination where a stop codon signals the end of the polypeptide chain synthesis.
The correct answer to the question is B. Translation. This process, shown in Figure 3.29, underscores how the genetic code carried by mRNA is translated into the functional units of cells—proteins. During this sophisticated cellular mechanism, tRNA plays a critical role by transferring specific amino acids to the growing polypeptide chain in accordance with the sequence of codons on the mRNA.
After synthesis, polypeptides often undergo additional folding and modifications before becoming fully functional proteins. These processes are essential for the correct structure and function of proteins within the cell.