Analysis of the structure of a tRNA molecule reveals it is specific for a certain type of...

• A. Carbohydrate
• B. Lipid
• C. Amino Acid
• D. Nucleotide

Answer: (C)

tRNA's role is to deliver a specific amino acid to the ribosome during translation. Its structure includes an acceptor stem with a 3' end where the amino acid is covalently attached by a specific aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, giving each tRNA its identity for a particular amino acid. The anticodon region pairs with the codon on mRNA, but the actual specificity that defines which amino acid will be added is determined by the amino acid attached to the tRNA, not by carbohydrates, lipids, or nucleotides. So a tRNA is specific for an amino acid, enabling accurate translation as codons specify amino acids via tRNA adaptors.