Definition: Cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis.

Location: Found in the cytoplasm of cells in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Composition: Composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins.

Function: Facilitate the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) into proteins by assembling amino acids in the correct order.

Two Subunits:

Large and small subunits come together during protein synthesis and dissociate when not active.

Conservation: Ribosomes are highly conserved.

Review: Protein Synthesis (The Living Cell)