Final answer:
During the translation process, the anticodon on the tRNA pairs with the codon on the mRNA using complementary base pair rules, which allows the ribosome to add the correct amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain.
Step-by-step explanation:
During translation, the anticodon on the tRNA pairs up with the codon on the mRNA following complementary base pair rules. This critical interaction occurs within the ribosome, where the mRNA is situated between its two subunits. The anticodon-codon pairing ensures that the corresponding amino acid carried by the tRNA is correctly added to the growing polypeptide chain, enabling the ribosome to "translate" the nucleic acid sequence into a specific protein sequence according to the genetic code.
A perfect example of this process can be observed when a tRNA molecule with the anticodon sequence AAA recognizes and binds to the complementary codon UUU on the mRNA. This base-pairing is anti-parallel, with the first base of the codon on the mRNA pairing with the third base of the tRNA anticodon. The enzyme peptidyl transferase, which is a component of the ribosome, then catalyzes the formation of a peptide bond between the amino acid attached to the tRNA and the growing polypeptide chain.