Answer :
Answer:
The model in the image likely supports the statement "The body carries out critical life functions through systems of specialized cells" by demonstrating the process through which steroid hormones, acting at the cellular level, regulate and control essential functions in the body.
Here’s how the model could illustrate this concept:
1. **Steroid Hormone Signaling**: Steroid hormones are signaling molecules that can pass through cell membranes due to their lipid-soluble nature. Once inside the cell, they bind to specific receptors located in the cytoplasm or nucleus.
2. **Receptor Activation**: Upon binding to their receptors, steroid hormones undergo a conformational change, which allows them to act as transcription factors. This means they can directly influence gene expression.
3. **Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis**: The activated steroid hormone-receptor complex moves into the nucleus and binds to specific DNA sequences called hormone response elements (HREs) located near target genes. This binding activates or inhibits the transcription of these genes.
4. **Protein Synthesis**: The transcription of genes influenced by the steroid hormone results in the synthesis of specific proteins. These proteins play critical roles in various cellular functions, including metabolism, growth, immune response, and reproduction.
Therefore, the model likely depicts the molecular mechanism by which steroid hormones, through their action on specialized cells, regulate protein synthesis and thereby influence essential life functions. This supports the statement that the body carries out critical functions through systems of specialized cells, as it illustrates how specific cellular processes are orchestrated by hormonal signaling to maintain homeostasis and respond to internal and external stimuli.
