Final answer:
The anticodon is a key component in translation, consisting of three nucleotides on tRNA that pair with complementary mRNA codons to correctly incorporate amino acids into proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
An anticodon is a consecutive sequence of three nucleotides on a transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule that is complementary to a specific codon on a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule during the process of translation.
The function of the anticodon is to facilitate the correct addition of amino acids to a growing polypeptide chain in a ribosome, thus "translating" the genetic code into a functional protein.
Each of the 64 possible mRNA codons specifies either the termination of protein synthesis or the addition of one of the 20 amino acids used to build proteins.
For example, if an mRNA has a codon sequence of GCA, the respective tRNA with the anticodon sequence UGC will bind to it, carrying the amino acid alanine for incorporation into a protein.
The ability of tRNAs to base pair with mRNA codons ensures that the genetic code is deciphered correctly during protein synthesis.