Here's how it works:

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

2. tRNA (transfer RNA) molecules pick up specific amino acids from the cytoplasm and bring them to the ribosome.

3. The ribosome reads the mRNA code and matches each codon (a three-nucleotide sequence) to the corresponding tRNA molecule carrying the correct amino acid.

4. The ribosome links the amino acids together in the order specified by the mRNA, forming a polypeptide chain.

5. This polypeptide chain then folds into a specific three-dimensional structure, becoming a functional protein.

So, the ribosome acts like a protein assembly line, using the instructions from the mRNA and the building blocks provided by tRNA to create the complex structures of proteins.