Protein synthesis. Illustration of a ribosome (white) producing a protein (ribbons at bottom left) from an mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid, yellow) template. This process is known as translation. mRNA consists of groups of three nucleotide bases that code for different amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. The ribosome attaches to the mRNA and reads it code. A transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule carrying an amino acid corresponding to the code then binds to the ribosome. When the tRNA dissociates it leaves the amino acid behind, and the ribosome moves onto the next bases. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA the protein grows from the ribosome.