Origin: Latin prefix trans-
Transfer rna has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
RNA molecules present in the cell (in at least 20 varieties, each variety capable of combining with a specific amino acid) that attach the correct amino acid to the protein chain that is being synthesized at the ribosome of the cell (according to directions coded in the mRNA)
A short-chain version of RNA that transfers individual amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis.