tRNA

In body cells, mRNA carries the genetic information and -- together with tRNA -- is responsible for its translation into proteins.

Each tRNA has a three-letter genetic sequence that codes for a specific amino acid.

But a team led by synthetic biologist Yizhi “Patrick” Cai of the University of Manchester, international director of the project, created a new, 17th chromosome to house yeast’s 275 tRNA genes.

Each type of tRNA carries a specific amino acid that it adds to a growing protein strand only when it recognizes the correct codon.

But the control molecules, another form of RNA in the human body — so-called transfer RNA, or tRNA — did not.