Which of the following processes occurs in the ribosome?

The process that occurs in the ribosome is protein synthesis. Ribosomes are molecular machines within the cell that facilitate the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) into polypeptides, which then fold into functional proteins. In this process, ribosomes read the sequence of the mRNA and use transfer RNA (tRNA) to bring the appropriate amino acids together in the correct order.

During protein synthesis, the ribosome has three critical sites: the A (aminoacyl) site, the P (peptidyl) site, and the E (exit) site. The mRNA strand passes through the ribosome, and tRNA molecules, each carrying an amino acid, align with the mRNA codons, allowing the ribosome to link the amino acids into a growing chain, forming a protein. This essential function of ribosomes is crucial for the expression of genes and the functioning of cells.

In contrast, DNA replication occurs in the nucleus, cell division is a process of cellular reproduction that involves multiple organelles and stages, and cellular respiration primarily takes place in the mitochondria. Each of these processes is vital for life but does not occur in the ribosome itself.