Which type of RNA carries amino acids during protein synthesis?

• A. mRNA
• B. tRNA
• C. rRNA
• D. snRNA

Answer: (B)

The type of RNA that carries amino acids during protein synthesis is transfer RNA, or tRNA. Each tRNA molecule has a specific structure that includes an anticodon region, which is complementary to a codon on the messenger RNA (mRNA), and an amino acid attachment site at its other end. During translation, the ribosome facilitates the pairing of tRNA anticodons with the corresponding mRNA codons. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, tRNA molecules bring in their attached amino acids, enabling the assembly of the protein chain in the correct order according to the genetic code dictated by the mRNA sequence. This process is crucial for synthesizing proteins directly from the code provided by the DNA through mRNA.

In contrast, messenger RNA (mRNA) serves as the template for translation, carrying the genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a key component of ribosomes, contributing to their structural and functional roles during protein synthesis, but it does not carry amino acids. Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is involved in the processing of pre-mRNA in eukaryotes and plays no direct role in carrying amino acids. Thus, tRNA is uniquely suited for this critical function in