any overlap between genetics and biochemistry?

[luv2sd]

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I was just wondering how much overlap is there between genetics and biochemistry. Instead of taking both, I'm leaning toward taking biochemistry. Is that a good idea?

 

[Orbo]

In the genetics and biochem classes I took, there was very little overlap between the two. Genetics focuses on gene mapping, inheritance, vectors, recombination, and all that jazz. Biochem focuses on (as the name implies) biochemical pathways. You'll see a ton of cycles (Krebs, Calvin, etc), photosynthesis, and discussions on enzymes, allostery, and amino acid specificity. I would go into further detail, but God knows I forgot just about everything in those 2 classes 😛

If you had to pick one over the other, I believe biochem will provide better preparation for medical school.

 

[collegefootball]

In the genetics and biochem classes I took, there was very little overlap between the two. Genetics focuses on gene mapping, inheritance, vectors, recombination, and all that jazz. Biochem focuses on (as the name implies) biochemical pathways. You'll see a ton of cycles (Krebs, Calvin, etc), photosynthesis, and discussions on enzymes, allostery, and amino acid specificity. I would go into further detail, but God knows I forgot just about everything in those 2 classes 😛

If you had to pick one over the other, I believe biochem will provide better preparation for medical school.

Yes, biochemistry is better for medical school. Genetics would be a good course to take, but most of the crap that is tought at an undergraduate level is to plain and simple to really understand the complexity of human genetics (not all of that mapping, vector, and reading gel crap that is done in an undergraduate course).

Biochemistry will help you learn about metabolism. Most of what you learn in biochem you will forget after only a few weeks after the course is done. I have a friend that is in medical school and he told me as an M3 he doesn't remember much at all of what he was tested on in biochem in medical school. forget about the undergraduate course information...when it comes to remembering any of the material.

What is important is understanding how to treat a patient that has a metabolic disorder and the reason why you have to treat the patient the way you do (diet specifics). This is why you should take biochemistry. It will give you a better understanding and will be more helpful in being a doctor. If you have a patient that you think might have a genetic disorder (which can be most metablic disorders), you can send the patient to a genetic specalist.