Bio before Chem?

Started by arthur2647
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arthur2647

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10+ Year Member
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...
 
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.
 
You guys must have some dumb advisors.

Bio before chem, or both at the same time. Not chem before bio.
 
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.
 
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..
 
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.
 
I took them both at the same time and I didn't really see any kind of relation between the two.
 
It makes no difference, gen bio is so basic that you hardly get into the chemistry behind any of the concepts.
 
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."
 
Mackey said:
You don't need chem to memorize what an apical meristem is.
Click to expand...

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)
 
circulus vitios said:
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."
Click to expand...
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 😴
 
I think gen chem would be helpful at the beginning, but it is not necessary for the rest of intro bio.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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