Which of the following processes is directly associated with the synthesis of proteins?

The synthesis of proteins is directly associated with transcription, which is the process where the information encoded in DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA serves as a template for the assembly of amino acids into proteins during translation.

In transcription, the DNA unwinds, and an enzyme called RNA polymerase binds to the DNA at a specific region, synthesizing a single-stranded RNA molecule that is complementary to the DNA template strand. This step is crucial because it allows the genetic information stored in DNA to be converted into a format that can be translated into protein.

Mitosis and meiosis are primarily processes of cell division, focusing on the replication and distribution of genetic material rather than the synthesis of proteins. While replication refers to the copying of DNA prior to cell division, it does not involve the synthesis of proteins either. Therefore, transcription is the key process in the pathway leading to protein synthesis, making it the correct choice for this question.