Mississippi State Biology 1 Practice Test 2025 - Free Biology Practice Questions and Study Guide

The ability of tRNA to match with mRNA is primarily facilitated by the presence of the anticodon. Each tRNA molecule carries a specific amino acid and has an anticodon region that consists of three nucleotides complementary to a corresponding codon on the mRNA. This specific pairing is crucial during the process of translation, where the sequence of the mRNA determines the order in which amino acids are added to the growing polypeptide chain.

When the ribosome is synthesizing proteins, the mRNA sequence is read in sets of three nucleotides known as codons. For each codon, the tRNA's anticodon aligns perfectly with it, ensuring that the correct amino acid is brought to the ribosome. This matching ensures fidelity during protein synthesis and allows the genetic code to be accurately translated into functional proteins.

The other choices, such as the promoter region, polyA tail, and 5' cap, refer to features involved in gene expression and mRNA stability rather than the direct matching of tRNA to mRNA. The promoter region is critical for initiating transcription, the polyA tail is important for mRNA stability and transport, and the 5' cap plays a role in mRNA protection and initiation of translation, but