Which component of the translation process is responsible for pairing codons with anticodons?

The component responsible for pairing codons with anticodons during the translation process is tRNA (transfer RNA). Each tRNA molecule has a specific three-nucleotide sequence called an anticodon that is complementary to a codon on the mRNA strand. This ensures that the correct amino acid, which corresponds to the codon, is brought to the ribosome, where protein synthesis occurs.

As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, each codon is matched with its corresponding tRNA anticodon, facilitating the incorporation of the appropriate amino acid into the growing polypeptide chain. This process is crucial for accurately translating the genetic information encoded in mRNA into a sequence of amino acids, which ultimately determines the structure and function of the resulting protein.