Biology STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

The function of tRNA, or transfer RNA, in the process of translation is to transport amino acids to the ribosome, where protein synthesis occurs. Each tRNA molecule is specific to a particular amino acid and has an anticodon region that is complementary to the codons on the mRNA strand. This specificity ensures that the correct amino acid is added to the growing polypeptide chain, aligning with the genetic instructions provided by the mRNA sequence.

In more detail, during translation, the ribosome reads the mRNA codons sequentially, and the corresponding tRNA with the matching anticodon binds to the ribosome. The tRNA molecule carries its respective amino acid, which is then linked to the amino acid chain being formed, thus facilitating the synthesis of proteins according to the mRNA template. This role is crucial for building proteins accurately, as the order of amino acids determines the structure and function of the resulting protein.