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AAT Bioquest

Why is translation much faster in prokaryotes than eukaryotes?

Posted March 27, 2024


Answer

Translation in prokaryotes happens more quickly than in eukaryotes because prokaryotic mRNA molecules tend to be shorter. Additionally, prokaryotic ribosomes are simpler in structure than eukaryotic ribosomes, as they lack membrane-bound organelles. The simpler structure of prokaryotic ribosomes allows for faster assembly and initiation of translation. Another reason is in prokaryotes, transcription and translation occur simultaneously because there is no nuclear membrane to separate the processes. This allows prokaryotic ribosomes to reach mRNA molecules immediately after they are transcribed, resulting in faster translation.

Additional resources

Ribosomes

DNA and RNA Quantitation

Helixyte™ Green *10,000X Aqueous PCR Solution*