A polyphyletic model for the origin of tRNAs has more support than a monophyletic model

► The monophyletic and polyphyletic origins of tRNAs are compared. ► The monophyletic origin is not able to solve the main trouble related to the tRNA origin. ► The origin of tRNAs should predict an evolution equivalent to a polyphyletic origin. ► The polyphyletic origin might have been the main path for the evolution of tRNAs.