During translation, which phase lengthens the polypeptide chain?

During translation, which phase lengthens the polypeptide chain?

• A. Initiation
• B. Termination
• C. Elongation
• D. Replication

Answer: (C)

During translation, the phase that lengthens the polypeptide chain is elongation. After initiation sets up the ribosome and the first amino acid, elongation adds amino acids one by one. Charged tRNAs enter the ribosome, and the peptidyl transferase center forms a peptide bond between the growing chain and the new amino acid, extending the polypeptide from its C-terminus. The ribosome then moves along the mRNA (translocation) to read the next codon, allowing the cycle to repeat. This continues until a stop codon signals termination, which releases the finished polypeptide. Initiation builds the machinery and starts the chain, while termination ends translation, and replication is DNA copying, not part of translation.

During translation, the phase that lengthens the polypeptide chain is elongation. After initiation sets up the ribosome and the first amino acid, elongation adds amino acids one by one. Charged tRNAs enter the ribosome, and the peptidyl transferase center forms a peptide bond between the growing chain and the new amino acid, extending the polypeptide from its C-terminus. The ribosome then moves along the mRNA (translocation) to read the next codon, allowing the cycle to repeat. This continues until a stop codon signals termination, which releases the finished polypeptide. Initiation builds the machinery and starts the chain, while termination ends translation, and replication is DNA copying, not part of translation.