ribosome
Noun: A ribosome is a tiny, complex cellular structure found in the cytoplasm of living cells. It functions as the primary site for protein synthesis, where the genetic instructions from messenger RNA (mRNA) are read and used to assemble amino acids into specific protein chains.
The word ribosome is used to refer to this specific organelle responsible for building proteins. It is a standard term in cell biology and biochemistry. - The cell's ribosomes are essential for translating genetic code into functional proteins. - Scientists studied how antibiotics target bacterial ribosomes to inhibit their function.
- "Ribosomal" (adjective): Pertaining to or involving ribosomes.
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a key structural component of the ribosome.
- "Ribosome biogenesis": The complex process of making new ribosomes within a cell.
- Defects in ribosome biogenesis can lead to serious genetic disorders.
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): A type of RNA that, along with proteins, makes up the ribosome's structure.
- Polysome: A chain of multiple ribosomes simultaneously translating a single mRNA strand.
- Protein factory (a descriptive, non-technical synonym).
- Translation machinery (a functional synonym referring to its role in protein synthesis).
The word ribosome has a single, specific meaning in biology. It does not have other common definitions.
There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs using the word ribosome, as it is a highly specialized scientific term.
- an organelle in the cytoplasm of a living cell; they attach to mRNA and move down it one codon at a time and then stop until tRNA brings the required amino acid; when it reaches a stop codon it falls apart and releases the completed protein molecule for use by the cell
- the ribosome is the site of protein synthesis