What role do ribosomes play in the process of translation?

Ribosomes play a crucial role in translation by serving as the site where messenger RNA (mRNA) is decoded, and amino acids are linked together to form polypeptides, which eventually fold into functional proteins. During translation, the ribosome moves along the mRNA strand, reading the codons (three-nucleotide sequences) and facilitating the binding of transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules that carry specific amino acids. The ribosome catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids, effectively constructing the polypeptide chain in an ordered sequence dictated by the mRNA template.

This process is essential for gene expression, as it transforms the genetic information encoded in mRNA into functional proteins that perform various cellular functions. The ability of ribosomes to coordinate the intricate process of translating RNA into proteins highlights their significance in molecular biology.

The other options represent functions that are not associated with ribosomes: synthesizing RNA pertains to RNA polymerase, replicating DNA involves DNA polymerase and associated machinery, and modifying protein structures is typically carried out by various chaperone proteins and enzymes post-translationally. Thus, ribosomes are integral to the assembly of amino acids into polypeptides during translation, making option C the correct answer.