The process of pruning the brain of unused synapses makes the brain function less efficient. 

Why does the hydrolysis of ATP release so much energy?  There are 4 correct answers from the mutually exclusive sets below.  (there is a penalty for picking incorrect choices, otherwise you could just select all of them for full credit).

Which of the following components would make a plasma membrane more “fluid”? There are 3 correct components, one from each set of mutually exclusive options: A. Saturated fatty acid chains B. Unsaturated fatty acid chains C. Longer fatty acid chains D. Shorter fatty acid chains E. Increased temperature F. Decreased temperature

Match each type of diffusion mechanism across membranes with the best definition.

Detergents are amphipathic molecules just like phospholipids on the cell membrane. In an aqueous environment detergents spontaneously form spherical micelles, keeping hydrophobic groups on the center of the sphere while hydrophilic groups are on the outer region of the sphere.  Why does the cell membrane forms bilayer instead of micelles?

A cell membrane has a mutant phospholipid form that can’t interact with cholesterol. Predict the most likely result of this mutation on the cell membrane under varying temperatures.

Identify the x – and y – intercepts of : 10x + 4y = -20.  Show all supporting work.  

Solve the system of equations by the elimination method.  Show all work.  Work will be uploaded in the last question.  A correct answer choice with no work uploaded at most will earn 1 point. 2x = 8y – 2 3x – 3y = 15

Graph the following systems of linear inequalities.  State a possible solution. Show all work.  It is expected that I will see work showing the inequalities solved in slope intercept form and a graph of the system on graph paper. Work will be uploaded in the last question.  A correct answer choice with no work uploaded at most will earn 1 point.  

Write the equation of the line that passes through the point (-4, -9) and has a slope of .  Show all supporting work.