It can be difficult for beginning students to distinguish between transcription and translation. This simple, 35-s animation shows both processes in action, with a zoom-in view of translation.

As the animation begins, we see RNA polymerases travelling along a blue DNA strand. These enzymes each produce an RNA strand from the information in the DNA template; with a lot of RNA polymerases in action, the cell is able to produce a lot of RNA quickly. Once the 5’ end of the RNA strand is released from the RNA polymerase, the binding site for ribosomes on each mRNA molecule becomes available. First the 30S subunit of the ribosome binds, then the 50S subunit. As RNA polymerases continue to transcribe longer and longer mRNA strands, ribosomes "chase" up their mRNA transcript after them. A polypeptide chain (in green) is seen to form as the ribosome reads more and more mRNA nucleotides. This green chain begins to fold up into its three dimensional structure as it lengthens.

Upon zooming in to the interior of the ribosome, we see translation in process. Initially, the growing polypeptide chain is attached to an "ile"-specific tRNA molecule (in purple). Bonding between the mRNA codon and anticodon holds the "ile"-tRNA in place. Then, a charged tRNA molecule (carrying the amino acid, "asp") diffuses into place, hydrogen bonding to the next three available bases on the mRNA. This positions the "asp" properly for the ribosome to catalyze peptide bond formation to the "ile": the protein has just grown by one amino acid, and "ile’s" tRNA is released from the protein.