Final answer:
In protein synthesis, cell signaling refers to how a cell receives a signal to start the synthesis of a particular protein. This involves the cell responding to molecular signals that lead to the transcription of specific DNA sections and subsequent protein production.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of protein synthesis, cell signaling is the process by which a cell is notified when to make a particular protein. This means that the correct answer to the student's question is 'd. a cell is notified when to make a particular protein.'Cell signaling includes the transmission of molecular signals to a cell, which can trigger a range of responses including the expression of genes that code for certain proteins. This process can be initiated by molecules that bind to receptors on the cell surface, leading to changes inside the cell that turn on or off the transcription of specific sections of DNA within the nucleus. The resulting mRNA is then used during translation to produce the protein specified by the gene.Gene expression is directly involved in protein synthesis, where DNA contains instructions for assembling amino acids in specific orders to create proteins. A particular part of the process—transcription—converts the genetic code into mRNA, which then directs the synthesis of proteins during translation. Cells only turn on the genes that are necessary for them to use, thus initiating the synthesis of particular proteins.