What makes a cell responsive to a particular hormone?

• A. The size of the cell's nucleus
• B. The presence of specific receptors for that hormone on the cell surface or inside the cell
• C. The amount of ATP produced by the cell
• D. The number of mitochondria in the cell

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that hormones are signaling molecules that bind to specific receptors on or inside target cells to elicit a response.
2. Recognize that the presence of specific receptors for a hormone determines whether a cell can respond to that hormone. Without these receptors, the hormone cannot bind and trigger a response.
3. Differentiate between cell surface receptors and intracellular receptors: hormones that are water-soluble (like peptide hormones) bind to receptors on the cell surface, while lipid-soluble hormones (like steroid hormones) can pass through the cell membrane and bind to receptors inside the cell.
4. Clarify that factors like the size of the nucleus, the amount of ATP produced, or the number of mitochondria in the cell do not determine hormone responsiveness. These are unrelated to receptor presence or hormone binding.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is: 'The presence of specific receptors for that hormone on the cell surface or inside the cell,' as this is the key determinant of a cell's responsiveness to a hormone.