What term describes the process of translating mRNA into proteins?

The process of translating mRNA into proteins is known as translation. During translation, the information encoded in the mRNA molecule is read by ribosomes, which then synthesize proteins by linking together amino acids in the correct sequence. This is a crucial step in gene expression, as it allows the genetic code carried by mRNA to be converted into functional proteins, which perform a variety of roles in the cell.

In this context, transcription refers to the process of synthesizing mRNA from a DNA template, while replication pertains to the copying of DNA, ensuring genetic material is accurately duplicated before cell division. Translocation, on the other hand, generally refers to the movement of a segment of DNA within a genome or the movement of ribosomes along mRNA during protein synthesis, but it is not the term used for the overall process of generating proteins from mRNA. This distinction clarifies why translation is the correct answer, as it specifically denotes the assembly of amino acids into proteins based on the sequence coded in mRNA.