Final answer:
Carrier mediated transport and receptors show specificity, competition, and saturation due to their unique binding sites that only recognize certain molecules, competition among similar molecules for binding, and a maximum rate of transport when all binding sites are occupied.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carrier mediated transport and receptors exhibit specificity, competition, and saturation because they depend on the interaction between the carrier proteins or receptors and the specific molecules they transport or bind to. Specificity occurs because carrier proteins and receptors have unique binding sites that only recognize and bind to particular molecules or ions, similar to a lock and key mechanism. This ensures that only specific substances are transported across the cell membrane, maintaining cellular homeostasis.
Competition arises when multiple molecules can bind to the same carrier or receptor, often those structurally similar, vying for the transport or binding spot. This can affect the efficiency of transport or binding if multiple substrates are present in the environment. Lastly, saturation refers to the point at which all carrier proteins or receptors are occupied and functioning at their maximum rate. At this point, increasing the concentration of the substrate will not increase the rate of transport because there are no available carriers or receptors to facilitate additional movement across the membrane.