A Level Biology Practice Exam

During which process is mRNA decoded into a sequence of amino acids?

1. Transcription

2. Translation

3. Replication

4. Translocation

The correct answer is: Translation

The process during which mRNA is decoded into a sequence of amino acids is translation. During translation, ribosomes read the mRNA sequence in sets of three nucleotides, known as codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal, allowing the synthesis of a polypeptide chain that folds into a functional protein. Transcription, on the other hand, is the process that occurs before translation, where DNA is used as a template to synthesize mRNA. Replication is the process of copying the entire DNA molecule before cell division, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an identical set of genetic information. Translocation typically refers to the movement of a segment of DNA or RNA from one location to another in the genome or during the protein synthesis process, but it is not the process by which mRNA is decoded into amino acids. Therefore, translation is indeed the correct answer, as it specifically refers to the decoding of mRNA into a sequence of amino acids during protein synthesis.