University of Central Florida (UCF) Biomedical Exit Practice Exam

Proteins in bacteria are made through two linked steps: transcription, where DNA is copied into RNA, and translation, where that RNA is used to build proteins. Some antibiotics target these exact steps by inhibiting the enzymes and ribosomes involved, so RNA synthesis or protein assembly stalls. That directly matches the idea of inhibiting transcription and translation, making it the best choice.

The other options refer to different bacterial processes. Blocking cell wall synthesis affects the structure of the cell envelope rather than the machinery of gene expression. Photosynthesis isn’t the typical target for antibiotics in bacteria, and DNA replication targets disrupt copying of the genetic material rather than the actual transcription or translation steps.