Final answer:
Hormones can be divided into three main groups: lipid-derived hormones (including steroids), amino acid-derived hormones, and peptide hormones. Lipid-derived hormones can diffuse across cell membranes, while amino acid-derived and peptide hormones typically cannot and bind to receptors on the surface of target cells. The correct answer is that hormones may be composed of steroids or amino acids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hormones in the human body can be categorized into three main groups based on their chemical structure: lipid-derived hormones, amino acid-derived hormones, and peptide hormones. Lipid-derived hormones are typically derived from cholesterol and include steroids such as estrogen and testosterone. These are lipid-soluble and can diffuse across cell membranes, and their receptors are usually located within the cytoplasm of target cells. On the other hand, amino acid-derived hormones, which include compounds like epinephrine and thyroxin, are typically derived from the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan. Peptide hormones, such as insulin and growth hormone, consist of polypeptide chains of amino acids and are water-soluble, hence they cannot pass through the plasma membrane of cells and their receptors are located on the surface of the target cells.
In light of the question, the correct answer is B. Hormones may be composed of steroids, which are a type of lipid hormone, or amino acids, which are the precursors to both amino acid-derived hormones and peptide hormones.