2026 DNA History, Replication, and Protein Synthesis Complete Practice Test

Translation unfolds in three stages: initiation, elongation, and termination. In initiation, the ribosome assembles at the start codon with the initiator tRNA, setting the reading frame so the first amino acid (methionine in eukaryotes; formyl-Met in bacteria) is positioned for the growing chain. In elongation, the correct aminoacyl-tRNA pairs with the mRNA codon in the ribosome, a peptide bond forms to attach the new amino acid to the chain, and the ribosome shifts to the next codon to continue adding amino acids. In termination, a stop codon is encountered, release factors prompt release of the finished polypeptide, and the ribosomal subunits, tRNA, and mRNA dissociate.

The other options mix in steps from transcription or RNA processing (like RNA polymerase binding a promoter or splicing) or describe events not part of translation (such as ligation or mRNA degradation), which is why they don’t correctly represent the three stages of translation.