The statement that best distinguishes between mRNA and tRNA is:
mRNA carries protein-building instructions to ribosomes, while tRNA carries amino acids to ribosomes.
mRNA, or messenger RNA, carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis. It contains the protein-building instructions in the form of a series of codons, which are translated into amino acids by the ribosomes.
tRNA, or transfer RNA, is responsible for bringing the correct amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis. It contains an anticodon sequence that matches the codon on the mRNA, allowing it to deliver the corresponding amino acid to the ribosome.
Therefore, while both mRNA and tRNA play important roles in protein synthesis, they have distinct functions in the process, with mRNA carrying the instructions for protein synthesis and tRNA delivering the amino acids.