Final answer:
An example of cells maintaining homeostasis is skin cells dividing to create new cells, which helps repair and preserve the skin's protective barrier. Homeostasis is the dynamic balance of internal conditions, and not maintaining it can lead to illness. Regulatory mechanisms help organisms sustain this balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of homeostasis is critical to understanding how cells maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions. The example that best illustrates how cells maintain homeostasis is: 'Skin cells divide, creating new skin cells to heal damage.' This process directly relates to maintaining a consistent state within the body through the regeneration of cells, thus preserving the skin's protective barrier and overall cellular balance.
Cells must maintain proper temperature, pH, and concentration of diverse chemicals to function correctly. When faced with internal or external changes, cells and organisms trigger regulatory mechanisms to ensure vital parameters stay within a life-compatible range. Failing to maintain homeostasis can lead to illness or even death.
Dynamic homeostasis is vital, enabling cellular growth, reproduction, and sustainability of an internal environment distinct from the external environment. This is essential for life's continuity and adapting to changing conditions while preserving internal balance.