The Cell’s 3D Printers: What Ribosomes Do and Why They Matter

Proteins are the tiny tools that do almost every job in our bodies. Inside each cell, the “protein making machines” called ribosomes work nonstop. In fact, some human cells can pack up to 10 million of them. They decode our genetic instructions and assemble the proteins that give cells their structure, function, and identity. You can think of each ribosome as a highly sophisticated 3D printer.

Not only healthy cells, but also cancer cells in tumors rely heavily on those protein-making “3D-printers”. So studying ribosomes can help us understand how tumors grow and where they might have weak points for us to target as treatments. No prior knowledge is required. If you’re curious about what ribosomes do – or amazed that every cell contains millions of these tiny machines – this talk offers an accessible, engaging tour of one of life’s most essential and abundant systems.

(Photo: AI-generated illustration prompted by Rosi Krebs)