Which molecule makes up the ribosome?

Which molecule makes up the ribosome?

• A. Codon
• B. Anticodon
• C. mRNA
• D. rRNA

Answer: (D)

Ribosomes are ribonucleoprotein machines, built from ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal proteins. The rRNA components form the core scaffold of both subunits and, in fact, provide the catalytic center that forms peptide bonds during translation. Because of this central role, rRNA is the molecule that makes up the ribosome. The other terms describe parts of the translation process rather than the ribosome’s structural core: a codon is a triplet in mRNA that specifies an amino acid, an anticodon is the corresponding tRNA triplet, and mRNA is the template the ribosome reads. These are essential for translation but are not the ribosome itself.

Ribosomes are ribonucleoprotein machines, built from ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal proteins. The rRNA components form the core scaffold of both subunits and, in fact, provide the catalytic center that forms peptide bonds during translation. Because of this central role, rRNA is the molecule that makes up the ribosome. The other terms describe parts of the translation process rather than the ribosome’s structural core: a codon is a triplet in mRNA that specifies an amino acid, an anticodon is the corresponding tRNA triplet, and mRNA is the template the ribosome reads. These are essential for translation but are not the ribosome itself.