In what part of the cell does translation primarily occur?

Translation, the process wherein ribosomes synthesize proteins based on the information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA), primarily occurs in the cytoplasm. This is where ribosomes, which can be free-floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum, translate the mRNA into polypeptide chains.

While the endoplasmic reticulum plays a crucial role in the synthesis and processing of proteins—especially those destined for secretion or for use in cell membranes—it is the cytoplasm that serves as the main site for translating mRNA into proteins. The nucleus is involved in the transcription phase, converting DNA to mRNA, but does not facilitate translation. Similarly, the Golgi apparatus's primary function is to modify, sort, and package proteins after they have been synthesized, rather than being a site for translation itself. Thus, the cytoplasm is the correct answer as it encompasses the ribosomes that carry out this essential cellular function.