TRANSLATION AND tRNA
During translation, a polypeptide chain specified by the mRNA is synthesized. Each triplet (three-base sequence) in the mRNA constitutes a codon, which specifies one amino acid in the polypeptide chain, or a stop or start signal. Translation requires tRNAs and complex cell machinery, including ribosomes.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are the decoding molecules in the translation process. Each tRNA molecule is specific for only one amino acid. One part of the molecule contains a three-base anticodon, which is complementary to a codon of the mRNA. Attached to one end of the tRNA molecule is the amino acid specified by the complementary mRNA codon. Amino acids are covalently bound to tRNA by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase enzymes.