What does tRNA transfer to the ribosome during protein synthesis?

During protein synthesis, tRNA, or transfer RNA, plays a crucial role by carrying amino acids to the ribosome. This process is fundamental to building proteins, as ribosomes read the sequence of messenger RNA (mRNA) and work in conjunction with tRNA to assemble the corresponding amino acids in the correct order. Each tRNA molecule is specific to a particular amino acid, and it has an anticodon that pairs with the specific codon on the mRNA. This ensures the correct amino acid is added to the growing polypeptide chain being formed during translation.

The other choices do not accurately represent the function of tRNA. Genetic materials, like DNA and RNA, are not transferred by tRNA; instead, they serve as templates. Nucleotides are the building blocks of RNA and DNA, not what tRNA delivers. Polypeptides are the final products of protein synthesis, not the items that tRNA carries to the ribosome. Thus, the critical function of tRNA is to transport amino acids to the ribosome, making the selection of amino acids the correct answer in this context.