What do ribosomes read to produce proteins?

Ribosomes are essential cellular structures responsible for synthesizing proteins, and they do so by reading messenger RNA (mRNA). The process begins with transcription, where DNA is transcribed into mRNA, which then carries the genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosome. At the ribosome, the sequence of nucleotide bases in the mRNA is read in sets of three, known as codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, which are the building blocks of proteins. Thus, the ribosome translates the information encoded in the mRNA into a linear sequence of amino acids, ultimately folding into functional proteins. This function of ribosomes is critical for cellular processes and the overall functioning of organisms.

The other choices do not accurately represent what ribosomes read to synthesize proteins. Protein sequences are the final products, while diverse molecules encompass various substances that do not specifically relate to the protein synthesis process. DNA, although it serves as the original template for mRNA, is not directly read by the ribosomes during protein synthesis.