What do ribosomes do?

What do ribosomes do?

• A. Break down waste
• B. Make proteins
• C. Produce lipids
• D. Control cell division

Answer: (B)

Ribosomes are the cell’s protein factories. They read the genetic instructions carried by messenger RNA and link together amino acids to form polypeptides, which fold into functional proteins. This process, protein synthesis, happens either freely in the cytoplasm or on the rough endoplasmic reticulum, depending on where the protein is meant to go. That’s why this function is correct. Other tasks described—breaking down waste, producing lipids, or controlling cell division—are handled by other cellular components: waste is degraded by lysosomes and proteasomes, lipid synthesis occurs mainly in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and cell division is regulated by the nucleus and cell-cycle proteins.

Ribosomes are the cell’s protein factories. They read the genetic instructions carried by messenger RNA and link together amino acids to form polypeptides, which fold into functional proteins. This process, protein synthesis, happens either freely in the cytoplasm or on the rough endoplasmic reticulum, depending on where the protein is meant to go. That’s why this function is correct. Other tasks described—breaking down waste, producing lipids, or controlling cell division—are handled by other cellular components: waste is degraded by lysosomes and proteasomes, lipid synthesis occurs mainly in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and cell division is regulated by the nucleus and cell-cycle proteins.