Protein synthesis is the process by which cells convert amino acids into long chain polymers called proteins. Proteins are molecules which have a variety of functions in cells such as providing structure, storing energy, providing movement, transporting other substances, catalyzing biological reactions, and protecting against disease. They make up more than 50% of a cell's dry weight. Protein synthesis is programmed by DNA. During this process DNA is converted to RNA which is then translated into a protein by the ribosomes.

The theories that laid the foundation for our modern understanding of protein synthesis began in 1909 with Archibald Garrod. He was the first to suggest that genes were chemically expressed through enzymes that catalyze specific chemical reactions in the cell. He even theorized that an inherited disease reflected a person's inability to make a particular enzyme. Unfortunately, his ideas about inheritance were ahead of their time, and...