The three stages of translation: assembly at the start codon, chain growth, and release at a stop codon.
Initiation: small subunit binds mRNA at the start codon with initiator tRNA (Met), then the large subunit joins. Elongation cycles through aminoacyl-tRNA arrival, peptide bond formation and translocation. Termination: a release factor recognises a stop codon, and the polypeptide is freed.
Energy comes from GTP hydrolysis by elongation factors.
The three stages of translation: assembly at the start codon, chain growth, and release at a stop codon.
Initiation, Elongation, Termination is one of the 52 topics in Molecular Biology. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Translation, Ribosome Structure, Promoter.
Translation of an average protein of 300 amino acids takes about 20 seconds in bacteria.
Work through the Beginner topics in Molecular Biology first, such as Central Dogma, DNA Replication, Base Pairing, then return to Initiation, Elongation, Termination. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Initiation, Elongation, Termination are Translation, Ribosome Structure, Promoter, Genetic Code. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Initiation, Elongation, Termination. To practise the whole of Molecular Biology, use the Molecular Biology quiz.
Initiation, Elongation, Termination: The three stages of translation: assembly at the start codon, chain growth, and release at a stop codon. Translation: Ribosomes read the mRNA codons to assemble amino acids into a protein. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Translation and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Molecular Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Ribosomes read the mRNA codons to assemble amino acids into a protein.
🧫 Molecular BiologyA large and small subunit with A, P and E sites that coordinate tRNA binding and peptide bond formation.
🧫 Molecular BiologyA DNA sequence where RNA polymerase and transcription factors bind to start transcription of a gene.
🧫 Molecular BiologyThe set of three-base codons that specify amino acids; it is nearly universal across life.
🧫 Molecular Biology