Bio before Chem?

[arthur2647]

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Hi im a second semester freshman. So i signed up for General Bio 1 this semester and my first class was today. At lecture they said Chem 1 is strongly recommended as many tend to do poorly without it. This kind scares me because it wasn't required for the class so i didn't worry much before but now they make it seem like its required. I had plans on taking Chem 1 before but there is a test prior to it and i have yet to schedule and prepare for it. That said, assuming i work hard, would i still be able to do relatively well in Bio 1? Is there that much chemistry in it that i should drop it and take chem 1 first? I really don't want to drop it as i will fall behind another semester...

 

[JJMrK]

There's pretty much no reason at all that you should have intro chem before intro bio. At least, I can't think of one.

 

[Claud05]

I am also a freshman in my 2nd semester. I'm trying to get Chem out of the way so I took Chem I with Lab during the first semester, and right now Chem II with Lab. I asked my adviser about taking Biology, and they said that they would recommend to finish with Chem first.

Hope that helps.

 

[Elpenor]

You guys must have some dumb advisors.

Bio before chem, or both at the same time. Not chem before bio.

 

[billw]

You can really get a lot more out of bio if you have a good foundation in chem, but most people do just fine without it.

 

[ipostman]

.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

hmm alright.. the only use of chem in bio is in organic molecules like sugar and fat.. i mean also if you wana go into potassium channels in the kerbs cycle..

 

[apumic]

Chem 1 is a common recommended course prior to the intro cell bio half of gen bio (often bio 1) but is not absolutely necessary (more like a good suggestion/good idea). Having a basic idea of the chemistry behind cell bio is helpful in understanding what is going on and may clarify certain concepts a bit but I wouldn't stress about it. Take them as they come. Taking chem 1 and bio 1 concurrently would be a good idea, though.

 

[orthomyxo]

I took them both at the same time and I didn't really see any kind of relation between the two.

 

[Omar Gooding]

It makes no difference, gen bio is so basic that you hardly get into the chemistry behind any of the concepts.

 

[circulus vitios]

The extent of chemistry in my biology class was "These are guanine, cytosine, adenine, and thymine. They only pair as c-g/a-t in DNA, and c-g/a-u in RNA."

 

[Danae00]

.

 

[Mackey]

You don't need chem to memorize what an apical meristem is.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You don't need chem to memorize what an apical meristem is.

Heh.. i hate plants XD, just a question apical meristem is the embryonic part which causes the plant to go up? I forgot most of my bio, (forgot most of it after the AP test)

 

[Mackey]

Heh.. i hate plants XD, just a question apical meristem is the embryonic part which causes the plant to go up? I forgot most of my bio, (forgot most of it after the AP test)

Wikipedia says yes.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Wikipedia says yes.

lol.. score =), sounds like wikipedia is what will be the backbone of my mcat prep llol...

 

[orthomyxo]

The extent of chemistry in my biology class was "These are guanine, cytosine, adenine, and thymine. They only pair as c-g/a-t in DNA, and c-g/a-u in RNA."

Don't forget about the less-than-exciting DNA replication enzymes and the always super fun oxidative phosphorylation process!

Seriously though, Intro Bio is very boring 😴

 

[FloatOn]

I think gen chem would be helpful at the beginning, but it is not necessary for the rest of intro bio.

 

[Elkoshi]

I'm sure that schools are different, but in my experience I got an A+ in bio 1 without chem by route memorization without really understanding what was being taught. In retrospect, I would have had a much easier time in bio and gained more if I had already taken chem 1 and 2. So my recommendation is take chem 1 and 2 first if possible, but don't worry about it if you can't.

 

[arthur2647]

thanks for all the advice...I'll stay in my bio course then and work hard.

 

[scapermoya]

chem 1 is required for bio 1 at uc berkeley.

that being said, i didn't need it. it helped a little, but just work hard. you'll be fine.

 

[JJMrK]

It makes no difference, gen bio is so basic that you hardly get into the chemistry behind any of the concepts.

Yep. 👍