What best describes the role of tRNA during translation?

• A. It carries amino acids and has an anticodon that pairs with the codon on mRNA
• B. It catalyzes peptide bond formation
• C. It transcribes DNA
• D. It carries mRNA to the ribosome

Answer: (A)

During translation, the tRNA’s job is to act as the adaptor that brings the correct amino acid to the ribosome and reads the genetic code through its anticodon. Each tRNA is charged with its specific amino acid by an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, so the tRNA that carries a given amino acid can only bind where its anticodon pairs with the corresponding codon on the mRNA. This codon–anticodon pairing ensures that the amino acids are added in the proper order to build the growing polypeptide chain. The actual peptide bond formation is carried out by the ribosome’s ribosomal RNA component, not by tRNA itself. Transcription, the process of making RNA from DNA, is performed by RNA polymerase, and mRNA is the template that guides which amino acids are added, not something carried by tRNA.