What role do ribosomes play in a cell?

Ribosomes are crucial cellular structures primarily responsible for protein synthesis. They facilitate the translation process in which messenger RNA (mRNA), which conveys genetic information transcribed from DNA, is read. During this process, ribosomes align transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules with the mRNA sequence, allowing the appropriate amino acids to be added in the correct order to form a polypeptide chain.

This chain eventually folds into a functional protein, which performs various essential roles in the cell, such as catalyzing biochemical reactions as enzymes, providing structural integrity, or regulating cellular processes. Unlike other cellular functions such as DNA replication, energy production, or lipid synthesis, ribosomes are specifically dedicated to reading genetic instructions and assembling amino acids into proteins, making their role critical for cellular function and life.