What is the function of an anticodon on a tRNA molecule?

The function of an anticodon on a tRNA molecule is to recognize a specific mRNA codon. The anticodon is a sequence of three nucleotides on the tRNA that is complementary to the corresponding codon on the mRNA strand during translation. This interaction ensures that the correct amino acid is added to the growing polypeptide chain in accordance with the genetic code, which is based on the sequence of codons in the mRNA.

This specific pairing is crucial for the accuracy of protein synthesis, as it directly determines which amino acid will be incorporated at each step of the process. By matching the anticodon with the codon, the tRNA effectively translates the genetic information from the mRNA into the corresponding amino acid sequence.