Ribosomes move relative to which of the following types of RNA during protein synthesis?

• A. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
• B. Transfer RNA (tRNA)
• C. Messenger RNA (mRNA)
• D. Small nuclear RNA (snRNA)

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of ribosomes in protein synthesis: Ribosomes are molecular machines that facilitate the translation of genetic information from RNA into a polypeptide chain (protein). This process occurs in the cytoplasm of cells.
2. Identify the types of RNA involved in protein synthesis: There are three main types of RNA involved in translation—messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Each plays a distinct role in the process.
3. Focus on the function of mRNA: Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries the genetic code from DNA in the form of codons, which specify the sequence of amino acids in a protein. Ribosomes move along the mRNA strand during translation to read these codons.
4. Clarify the role of ribosomes relative to mRNA: During protein synthesis, ribosomes bind to the mRNA and move along its sequence, decoding the codons one by one. This movement is essential for the assembly of the polypeptide chain.
5. Exclude other RNA types: Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a structural and functional component of the ribosome, transfer RNA (tRNA) brings amino acids to the ribosome, and small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is involved in RNA processing, not translation. None of these types of RNA serve as the template for ribosome movement during protein synthesis.