Ribosomes are very small nonmembranous organelles that can either exist freely in the cytoplasm or be embedded in the endoplasmic reticulum of a cell. They are associated with the synthesis of
proteins in a cell. Ribosomes are made up of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins, and function as the site where mRNA (messenger RNA) is translated into protein. This process involves bringing together amino acids in the correct sequence to form a polypeptide chain, which will ultimately fold into a functional protein. Ribosomes play a crucial role in protein synthesis, which is essential for the growth, development, and maintenance of cells.
