where are the ribosomes made in a cell
The ribosome ( / ˈraɪbəˌsoʊm , - boʊ - / ) is a complex molecular machine , found within all living cells , that serves as the site of biological protein synthesis ( translation ) . Ribosomes link amino acids together in the order specified by messenger RNA ( mRNA ) molecules . Ribosomes consist of two major components : the small ribosomal subunit , which reads the RNA , and the large subunit , which joins amino acids to form a polypeptide chain . Each subunit is composed of one or more ribosomal RNA ( rRNA ) molecules and a variety of ribosomal proteins ( r - protein or rProtein ) . The ribosomes and associated molecules are also known as the translational apparatus .