细胞的蛋白质合成系统将mRNA的信息转化成蛋白质中的过程。翻译发生于核糖体上，在那里将mRNA的信息转变为多肽链。一系列转移RNA分子将每三个碱基读成一个密码子，识别出mRNA的信息并将氨基酸相应排列起来。并列而排的转移RNA阅读邻近的密码子，带来氨基酸并将其以共价键连接起来。这一过程持续进行直到多肽链完成；这条链然后被释放出来并折叠成有功能的蛋白质。

The conversion of an mRNA transcript (see transcription) into a protein molecule by the cellular protein synthesis machinery. Translation occurs at a site called the ribosome, which allows the information within the mRNA to be converted into a polypeptide chain. The code is read, three bases at a time, by a series of transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, which recognize the mRNA message and align the appropriate amino acid in place. Juxtaposed tRNAs, reading adjacent codes, bring together amino acids, which are then covalently joined to together. This process continues until the polypeptide chain is complete; the chain is then released and folds into a functional protein.