Translation termination occurs when a ribosome interacts with which of the following structures?

• A. A promoter region on the DNA
• B. A start codon on the mRNA
• C. A tRNA carrying methionine
• D. A stop codon on the mRNA

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that translation is the process by which a ribosome synthesizes a protein by reading the mRNA sequence.
2. Recall that translation begins at a start codon on the mRNA, which signals the ribosome to start assembling amino acids.
3. Recognize that translation termination occurs when the ribosome encounters a specific signal that tells it to stop adding amino acids.
4. Identify that this termination signal is a stop codon on the mRNA, which does not code for any amino acid and causes the ribosome to release the newly made protein.
5. Conclude that the ribosome interacts with a stop codon on the mRNA to terminate translation, not with the promoter region, start codon, or tRNA carrying methionine.