OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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Study for the OCR GCSE Biology Exam. Use multiple choice questions and quiz flashcards with explanations and hints. Excel in your exams!

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What is the process of translation?

Copying DNA into mRNA
Building proteins from mRNA
Splicing mRNA before export
Reading genes from the nucleus

The correct answer is: Building proteins from mRNA

The process of translation is primarily focused on building proteins from messenger RNA (mRNA). After transcription, where DNA is converted into mRNA, this mRNA travels from the nucleus to the ribosomes, the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis. During translation, ribosomes read the sequence of the mRNA in sets of three nucleotides, known as codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, which are the building blocks of proteins. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules carry the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome, where they are linked together in the order specified by the mRNA sequence to form a polypeptide chain, ultimately folding into a functional protein. This process is crucial in expressing the genetic information stored in DNA, and any disruption can lead to issues in protein production which can impact cellular functions. In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of genetic expression and regulation but do not accurately describe the protein synthesis that occurs during translation.