Final answer:
A single ribosome can typically translate an mRNA molecule in approximately one minute, with potentially thousands of ribosomes active at any time, meaning a healthy cell can produce a significant number of ribosomes per minute.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question on how many ribosomes a healthy cell can produce per minute focuses on the cell's protein synthesis machinery. While specific numbers may vary across different cell types, a key point is that a single ribosome can translate an mRNA molecule, typically within a minute. In prokaryotic cells, like E. coli, there can be between 10,000 and 70,000 ribosomes each capable of synthesizing proteins. Moreover, in eukaryotic cells, the nucleolus is specialized for ribosome synthesis and assembly. When multiple ribosomes translate a single mRNA strand simultaneously, this forms a polyribosome or polysome, vastly increasing the efficiency of protein synthesis.