The first phase of translation, called __________, brings together the two ______________, the mRNA and the ______________ complex.

The first phase of translation, called __________, brings together the two ______________, the mRNA and the ______________ complex.

• A. initiation; ribosomal subunits; tRNA-amino acid
• B. initiation; ribosomal subunits; mRNA and tRNA-amino acid complex
• C. elongation; ribosomal subunits; tRNA-amino acid
• D. termination; ribosomal subunits; tRNA-amino acid

Answer: (B)

Initiation is the phase where the translation machinery first comes together with the genetic message to start building a protein. In this step, the two ribosomal subunits join to form the complete ribosome, and the mRNA is positioned so that the start codon is read correctly. The charged initiator tRNA binds to that start codon, bringing the first amino acid into place and establishing the reading frame. Once this setup is in place, elongation begins as the ribosome advances along the mRNA and adds more amino acids. This description fits initiation because it focuses on assembling the ribosome with the mRNA and the first charged tRNA to start translation. In elongation, amino acids are added one by one as the ribosome moves along the mRNA, and in termination, the process ends at a stop codon.

Initiation is the phase where the translation machinery first comes together with the genetic message to start building a protein. In this step, the two ribosomal subunits join to form the complete ribosome, and the mRNA is positioned so that the start codon is read correctly. The charged initiator tRNA binds to that start codon, bringing the first amino acid into place and establishing the reading frame. Once this setup is in place, elongation begins as the ribosome advances along the mRNA and adds more amino acids.

This description fits initiation because it focuses on assembling the ribosome with the mRNA and the first charged tRNA to start translation. In elongation, amino acids are added one by one as the ribosome moves along the mRNA, and in termination, the process ends at a stop codon.