Advanced biology electives

My biology major was set up in a somewhat strange but logical manner. I originally declared biochemistry, but after seeing how rigid the major was in terms of which classes to take and when (including physical chemistry) I decided to drop it and pick up biology. From then on I thought I would pick and choose which electives in the biochemistry department I wanted after the intro biochemistry class. For example, there are classes called Advanced Biochemistry: Enzyme Mechanisms and Advanced Biochemistry: Information Transfer Mechanisms that I want to take. However, knowing I have been accepted to medical school through an Early Assurance program, I question if it is really necessary to take these courses. Interest aside, do either of these courses have anything to offer me that could in some way help with medical school, or is biochemistry in medical school pretty much just an introductory biochemistry course?

SB100 said:

is biochemistry in medical school pretty much just an introductory biochemistry course?

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No.

Not even close.

We covered almost an entire semester's worth of intro biochem in about one lecture. A few lectures later, we've done everying from organic, gen chem, biochem, advanced cell bio, etc.

Take biochem if you can fit it in, it will help you immensely.

Well I am taking introductory biochemistry this coming semester, and because some of the biochemistry electives interested me more (the ones I listed above) than some of the biology electives I thought about taking those. However, I don't know if those courses are necessary for medical school. In other words, I don't know if they are too specific for what you'd learn in med school biochemistry. These are the course descriptions for each of them:

Advanced Biochemistry: Information Transfer Mechanisms - Addresses fundamental issues of gene expression and signal transduction at a molecular level. Discusses parallels between nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis, modification, transport, and degradation with an emphasis on understanding the mechanisms of specificity and regulation of these complex macromolecular processes.

Advanced Biochemistry:Enzyme Mechanisms - Describes the principles of biological catalysts and the chemical logic of metabolic pathways. Discusses representative enzymes from each reaction class, with an emphasis on understanding how mechanisms are derived from experimental evidence. Topics include serine proteases, phosphatases, isomerases, carboxylases, and dehydrogenases.

From the sounds of these descriptions, are either or both of these appropriate to take for med school biochemistry preparation?

Oops, I missed that you were taking intro biochem right now.

But both of those classes sound very helpful for med school. Necessary, no, but certainly they would give you an edge some of your classmates wouldn't have. I'd say take them only if you really want to, because the material will be repeated in medical school (on a deeper level, probably, but repeated nonetheless).

ssquared said:

But both of those classes sound very helpful for med school. Necessary, no, but certainly they would give you an edge some of your classmates wouldn't have. I'd say take them only if you really want to, because the material will be repeated in medical school (on a deeper level, probably, but repeated nonetheless).

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ssquared said:

No.

Not even close.

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I'm calling BS on this. Those two classes you mentioned will be way over the head of anything you will ever see in medical school. You really don't learn any more science in medical school biohemistry than in college biochemistry, infact I would argue that you probably learn a bit less because you're focused primarily on medically relevant pathways and enzymes.

They aren't going to expect you to be able to draw the schiff-base intermediate of the aldolase reaction, or even realize that if proceeds through a schiff-base intermediate as you'd learn in that enzyme mechanisms class. They will however want you to understand why a G6P deficiency can manifest with hemolytic anemia, something you probably didn't learn in a college biochem class. No, the only difference that you'll really get in med school is that they will cram a college level genetics course, 2 semesters of cell/molecular biology and 2 semesters of general biochemistry down your throat in 6-10 weeks. That, and they will deemphasize the hardcore science in favor of a clinical approach. Anyone who says that med school biochem gives you more information probably wasn't a biochemistry major in college.