In TASEP mRNAs are modeled as one-dimensional lattices of <i>S</i>^<i>g</i> sites (codons) and ribosomes—as particles occupying <i>L</i> sites (<i>L</i> = 3 in the figure).

<p>During translation (i) ribosomes attach to the first codon with rate <math><mrow><msubsup><mi>k</mi><mn>0</mn><mi>g</mi></msubsup></mrow></math> if the beginning of the mRNA is not occupied by other ribosomes (initiation); (ii) ribosomes move from position <i>i</i> to <i>i</i> + 1 with a site-specific rate <math><mrow><msubsup><mi>k</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>g</mi></msubsup></mrow></math> if not blocked by another ribosome (elongation); and, finally, (iii) after reaching the last codon, they detach with rate <math><mrow><msubsup><mi>k</mi><mi>S</mi><mi>g</mi><mi>g</mi></msubsup></mrow></math> (termination).