Which molecule is involved in matching codons during translation?

During translation, the molecule that is primarily responsible for matching codons is transfer RNA (tRNA). Each tRNA molecule has a specific anticodon that corresponds to a particular codon on the messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence. The codon consists of three nucleotides, and the tRNA brings the appropriate amino acid to the ribosome based on this codon-anticodon pairing.

This process ensures that amino acids are added in the correct sequence as dictated by the mRNA template, ultimately leading to the synthesis of proteins. The accuracy of this matching is crucial for proper protein function.

While ribosomal RNA (rRNA) plays an essential structural and functional role in the ribosome, and mRNA serves as the template carrying the genetic information from DNA, it is tRNA that specifically performs the function of codon matching with its corresponding anticodon. DNA is involved in the transcription process that creates mRNA, but it does not play a direct role in the translation phase where codons are matched.