What part of the tRNA recognizes the mRNA codon?

• A. Anticodon
• B. Amino Acid
• C. Sugar moiety
• D. Phosphodiester bond

Answer: (A)

Codon-anticodon pairing is how tRNA recognizes mRNA codons. The anticodon, a trio of nucleotides in the tRNA, base-pairs with the complementary codon in the mRNA within the ribosome’s decoding center, guiding which amino acid is added next. The amino acid carried by the tRNA is attached by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and is not what recognizes the codon; it’s the anticodon that dictates codon recognition. The sugar moiety and the phosphodiester bonds are part of the tRNA’s backbone structure and do not participate in codon reading.