Translation is the process in which mRNA is decoded to build long chains of amino acids, these chains are commonly referred as proteins or polypeptides chains. This process occurs in three stages within a cells ribosomes, the stages are named; initiation, elongation, and termination. In initiation, a ribosome divides into 2 subunits; one smaller and the other larger, an initiator tRNA carrying the amino acid methionine binds to the 5’ end of the mRNA molecule with the help of the smaller ribosomal subunit, together they move in the 3’ direction until they reach the start codon AUG. The larger subunit then joins the mRNA molecule to form the initiation complex, the combined ribosome provides a set of slots known as the A, P, and E sites. These slots allow tRNA anticodons carrying amino acids to bind to matching mRNA codons on the mRNA template molecule. With the initiation complex formed elongation is initiated, the polypeptide chain starts at the initiator tRNA in the middle slot of the ribosome called the P site. The A site is slightly ahead of the P site and is where the next tRNA anticodon will land. Once the new tRNA has landed at the A site, the methionine from the initiator tRNA in the P site is transferred onto the amino acid of the tRNA in the A site to form a peptide bond; officially creating a small polypeptide chain. The polypeptide chain is pulled backwards in the 5’ direction so the empty tRNA can be released through the E site slightly behind the P site exposing a new mRNA codon at the A site. This cycle continues until termination is initiated by a stop codon such as UAG, UAA, OR UGA entering the A site. Release factors are triggered to enter the P site and add a water molecule to the last amino acid of the polypeptide chain, this allows the chain to separate from the tRNA. The released protein will fold into a distinct 3D structure and/or can join with other proteins to form a multi-part protein, special amino acid sequences in the polypeptide chain determine where the newly synthesized protein will go. The cellular process of translation allows genetic information to take a physical form, without this ability life simply could not exists.

References:

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/gene-expression-central-dogma/translation-polypeptides/a/translation-overview