Amino acid memorization?

[pandalove89]

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Should we memorize amino acid structures and their characteristics such as being polar and such?

 

[FROGGBUSTER]

No way, I guarantee it won't show up on the test. Should you know what an amino acid generally looks like? Yes.

 

[JohnnnyD]

Should we memorize amino acid structures and their characteristics such as being polar and such?

you might remember some of the important AAs:
cysteine - contains S and makes disulfide bonds
proline - has a ring side chain and forms bends and kinks
glycine - has H side chain and is smallest AA
...
that might even be too much tho i dunno

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

I heard they were experimenting with questions showing amino acid structures back in January. Since it typically takes about 6 months from creating new questions, testing them and installing them into the actual exam, there is a good chance it may start showing up sometime this summer.

 

[HannibalLecter]

Wait WTF? DSchool how did you find out that they were testing it? Any other insider information because I feel like I am gonna be guinea pig for stuff like this because my test date is august 5th - natural day for **** to go down.

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

LetsGo2DSchool: Number one source for trusted DAT information.

OP: Knowing each amino acid structure is overkill, but as Johnny posted, you should know some of the main characteristics of special AAs.

 

[LetsGo2DSchool]

Wait WTF? DSchool how did you find out that they were testing it? Any other insider information because I feel like I am gonna be guinea pig for stuff like this because my test date is august 5th - natural day for **** to go down.

LetsGo2DSchool: Number one source for trusted DAT information.

OP: Knowing each amino acid structure is overkill, but as Johnny posted, you should know some of the main characteristics of special AAs.

I'm just messing with you people here

Da Bear is too smart. Can't fool him.

I know it's difficult to tell when I'm being serious and when I'm being facetious. Just roll with it and soon you'll be able to think just like me.

 

[dantemac]

you might remember some of the important AAs:
cysteine - contains S and makes disulfide bonds
proline - has a ring side chain and forms bends and kinks
glycine - has H side chain and is smallest AA
...
that might even be too much tho i dunno

That is as much as I would know. If they give you any questions on them they will probably give you a structure/charge on them. No need to memorize.

 

[pandalove89]

Okay I'm just worried because I'm currently studying with a person who's taking the MCATs and some of their practice questions seem way too specific.

For example, one question had 4 answer choices which were amino acids and it asked which amino acid would be most adapted to hydrogen bonding; i thought it was ridiculous how specific it was.

Another question asked how many breaks there would be if fatty acids showed 4 spots on a TMR plate. It didn't make any sense to me....

 

[Cappi]

also glycine is achiral

 

[FROGGBUSTER]

I'm just messing with you people here

Da Bear is too smart. Can't fool him.

I know it's difficult to tell when I'm being serious and when I'm being facetious. Just roll with it and soon you'll be able to think just like me.

Stop.