Final answer:
The statement is true; helix-turn-helix proteins are indeed characteristic of genes that regulate development and are crucial for the proper gene expression during an organism's embryonic stages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that 'Helix-turn-helix proteins are characteristic of genes that regulate development' is True. The helix-turn-helix motif is a characteristic DNA-binding domain found in a range of proteins that regulate gene expression, including transcription factors involved in the developmental process. Proteins containing this motif play a critical role in ensuring that specific genes are activated or repressed at the right time during an organism's development. For instance, homeobox genes, which are crucial in the embryonic development of humans and other organisms, encode for a type of helix-turn-helix domain known as the homeodomain. These homeodomain proteins function as transcription factors that bind to DNA and regulate the expression of target genes necessary for the proper formation of organs and organ systems.