What process do ribosomes primarily facilitate?

Ribosomes play a crucial role in the process of protein synthesis, also known as translation. During translation, ribosomes read the sequence of messenger RNA (mRNA) and assemble amino acids in the correct order to form a polypeptide chain, which ultimately folds into a functional protein. This process occurs in two main stages: initiation, where the ribosome assembles around the mRNA, and elongation, where tRNA molecules bring the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome, matching their anticodon sequences to the codons on the mRNA.

The importance of ribosomes in this process cannot be overstated, as they are the sites where genetic instructions are converted into the functional molecules that carry out the diverse tasks essential for life, including catalysis, signaling, and structural roles within cells. Without ribosomes, the genetic code contained in mRNA would remain unexpressed, hindering the production of proteins necessary for cellular functions.