Final answer:
The statement is true; a tRNA anticodon binding to an mRNA codon facilitates the addition of the carried amino acid to a growing protein chain, after which the tRNA is released and recycled.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that when a tRNA anticodon binds to an mRNA codon, the amino acid detaches from the tRNA molecule and attaches to the end of a growing protein chain is true. The process of translation involves tRNA molecules which recognize specific mRNA codons through their anticodons. Each tRNA molecule carries one specific type of amino acid and has an anticodon complementary to an mRNA codon. When the anticodon-codon pairing occurs at the ribosome during protein synthesis, the amino acid carried by the tRNA is added to the growing peptide chain through a peptide bond, and the tRNA is then released.
For example, if an mRNA has a codon UUC, a tRNA with the anticodon AAG and carrying the amino acid phenylalanine will bind to it. Once bound, the amino acid phenylalanine is joined to the growing polypeptide chain, and the tRNA is cleaved from the amino acid and is ready to be recharged with another amino acid for another round of protein synthesis.