2016 DAT changes in Biology

[dentaldreams2021]

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Hi everyone,

I was just on DAT Bootcamp and I read the following changes will be implemented to the DAT Biology section beginning in 2016:

"Experimental embryology will be removed from Developmental Biology. Cladistics will be removed from Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior."

Personally, I have never heard of experimental embryology. Can anyone elaborate on some concepts I could skip on studying due to this change? Or some sample questions I wouldn't have to know the answer to?

Also with the omission of cladistics, what info is that leaving out and can someone provide some sample questions? I am not sure how this affects what we need to know about classification and taxonomy.

Thanks guys! These may seem like silly questions haha but I appreciate it

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Hi everyone,

I was just on DAT Bootcamp and I read the following changes will be implemented to the DAT Biology section beginning in 2016:

"Experimental embryology will be removed from Developmental Biology. Cladistics will be removed from Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior."

Personally, I have never heard of experimental embryology. Can anyone elaborate on some concepts I could skip on studying due to this change? Or some sample questions I wouldn't have to know the answer to?

Also with the omission of cladistics, what info is that leaving out and can someone provide some sample questions? I am not sure how this affects what we need to know about classification and taxonomy.

Thanks guys! These may seem like silly questions haha but I appreciate it

Hi dentaldreams2021!

No questions are silly. I have attached the 2016 DAT Guide posted by the ADA. They provide the most up to date info and hopefully this will answer your questions.

Good luck in your studies and on the DAT

Take care..Nancy

 

[farzi2492]

Hi dentaldreams2021!

No questions are silly. I have attached the 2016 DAT Guide posted by the ADA. They provide the most up to date info and hopefully this will answer your questions.

Good luck in your studies and on the DAT

Take care..Nancy

If i use the 2015 Destroyer, will i still be able to score well above a 20 in gen chem, orgo and bio?

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

I think so farzi. I'm taking my test in 10 days and I'm using the 2015 destroyer.

 

[calvin.gogo13]

@orgoman22 Will you post an update information on what you have changed for the 2016 destroyer? Thank you! 😀

 

[msuspartan313]

I am taking the DAT in the end of February and I am using the 2015 destroyer. If someone takes it before, can you please explain how the quantitative reasoning has changed and what I should be focusing on?

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

Yeah I'm taking it a month before you. I'll let you know if I see anything weird. I don't think QR is too bad tbh. Maybe it's just because I like math though

 

[msuspartan313]

Yeah I'm taking it a month before you. I'll let you know if I see anything weird. I don't think QR is too bad tbh. Maybe it's just because I like math though

I went through the DAT Destroyer QR section and I didn't think it was that bad. I looked through the math destroyer and that was quite harder than I expected the DAT to be.

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

Yeah I don't think bootcamp is bad. I don't feel like getting math destroyer and I hope I don't regret it haha. I avg 23-24 on BC math so Im hoping for a 25+ on the real one. I just really need to improve my speed but I guess it's a bit hard after they hammer you with every other section

 

[msuspartan313]

Any updates LuckBloodandSweat?

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

Nothing major. I gotta crack down on my orgo and destroyer if anything. I like math and am fairly comfortable with almost anything they can throw at me. I just need to find a way to speed up. If you want me to explain any math to you lmk.

 

[Dakren12]

Hi guys, I got ahold of some old study materials, do you guys think they are still worth using considering the changes? Or should i invest in newer materials? Here's what I have:
Math Destroyer (2011)
DAT Destroyer (2011)
CliffsAP AP Biology (3rd Ed)
Kaplan DAT 7th Ed
Schaum's Outlines Biolog 3rd Ed

 

[msuspartan313]

@LuckBloodandSweat Did you just take your DAT?

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

Nah I've got a week spartan.

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

Hi guys, I got ahold of some old study materials, do you guys think they are still worth using considering the changes? Or should i invest in newer materials? Here's what I have:
Math Destroyer (2011)
DAT Destroyer (2011)
CliffsAP AP Biology (3rd Ed)
Kaplan DAT 7th Ed
Schaum's Outlines Biolog 3rd Ed

The AP Bio book should be fine. It doesn't have everything so you should look at feralis notes and tyjacobs also. The destroyer is a few years off and I'm not sure how big the difference is btwn that one and the one now. Kaplan is an ok way to get your feet wet but I don't think you should rely on it.

 

[Dakren12]

The AP Bio book should be fine. It doesn't have everything so you should look at feralis notes and tyjacobs also. The destroyer is a few years off and I'm not sure how big the difference is btwn that one and the one now. Kaplan is an ok way to get your feet wet but I don't think you should rely on it.

Oh wow, feralis notes and tyjacobs are free! (except exams)

 

[FridaK]

Hi dentaldreams2021!

No questions are silly. I have attached the 2016 DAT Guide posted by the ADA. They provide the most up to date info and hopefully this will answer your questions.

Good luck in your studies and on the DAT

Take care..Nancy

I have not gone through the entire document and may be seeing this out of context on the guide but experimental embryology is on pg.6 of the guide you posted

 

[DAT Destroyer]

I have not gone through the entire document and may be seeing this out of context on the guide but experimental embryology is on pg.6 of the guide you posted

Make sure you have a good understanding of germ layers, classical experiments, and the principles of cloning. All these concepts are addressed by Dr. Romano in our materials.

Hope this helps..

Nancy

 

[msuspartan3]

Nah I've got a week spartan.

How did it go for you? @LuckBloodandSweat

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

pretty bad you can see my rant lol.

 

[msuspartan3]

Those are great scores! I would more than happy if I got what you got! @LuckBloodandSweat

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

thanks man but i'm not happy with them at all. ik it's not as horrible as i make it out to be but i'm very ambitious and know i'm capable of doing better.

 

[Michelle1993]

Anyone who recently took the DAT and did well on the bio section please answer this question I would really appreciate it. And did you see something similar to this on your own exam

In an egg cell treated with EDTA, a chemical that binds calcium and magnesium ions, the
A) acrosomal reaction would be blocked.
B) fusion of sperm and egg nuclei would be blocked.
C) fast block to polyspermy would not occur.
D) fertilization envelope would not be formed.
E) zygote would not contain maternal and paternal chromosomes.

 

[DentalNucleicAcid]

Anyone who recently took the DAT and did well on the bio section please answer this question I would really appreciate it. And did you see something similar to this on your own exam

In an egg cell treated with EDTA, a chemical that binds calcium and magnesium ions, the
A) acrosomal reaction would be blocked.
B) fusion of sperm and egg nuclei would be blocked.
C) fast block to polyspermy would not occur.
D) fertilization envelope would not be formed.
E) zygote would not contain maternal and paternal chromosomes.

I haven't taken the DAT yet, but I'm assuming that a chemical that would bind to calcium would prevent the release of calcium into the cytosol, which would prevent the cortical reaction from happening (release of cortical granules from the egg), which in turn would prevent the zona pellucida from forming an impermeable fertilization membrane. So I think it's D.