Ace the Virginia Biology SOL 2025 – Dive into Success with Every Cell!

The ribosome is the organelle responsible for protein synthesis by attaching to mRNA (messenger RNA). During the process of translation, ribosomes read the sequence of codons on the mRNA molecule, which provides the instructions for assembling amino acids in the correct order to form a specific protein. Ribosomes can be found freely floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum, contributing to the production of proteins that may be secreted from the cell or incorporated into cellular membranes.

Other organelles, such as the Golgi apparatus, lysosome, and endoplasmic reticulum, have distinct functions that do not pertain to the direct synthesis of proteins from mRNA. The Golgi apparatus processes and packages proteins for transport, lysosomes are involved in digestion and waste removal, and the endoplasmic reticulum assists in folding and modifying proteins after they have been synthesized but does not attach directly to mRNA for the synthesis process.