Here's a breakdown of how it works:

1. mRNA (messenger RNA) carries genetic information from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

2. Ribosomes, along with tRNA (transfer RNA), decode the mRNA sequence. Each tRNA molecule carries a specific amino acid and recognizes a corresponding codon (a sequence of three nucleotides) on the mRNA.

3. The ribosome moves along the mRNA, reading the codons one by one. For each codon, the matching tRNA molecule delivers its amino acid.

4. The amino acids are linked together in the order specified by the mRNA sequence, forming a polypeptide chain.

5. The polypeptide chain folds into a specific three-dimensional structure, which determines the protein's function.

Key players:

* mRNA: Carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosomes.

* Ribosomes: The protein synthesis machinery, responsible for reading the mRNA and assembling the amino acid chain.

* tRNA: Brings the specific amino acids to the ribosome based on the codons in the mRNA.

Essentially, translation is the process of translating the language of nucleic acids (nucleotides) into the language of proteins (amino acids). This conversion is essential for building all the proteins our cells need to function.