Biochem 1 vs intro to biochem for MCAT?

[Gilakend]

Just a quick question, I tried to search it but couldn't find what I was looking for. I'll be taking one of these classes over the summer as a guest student. I was wondering, if they are both offered which I should take. I was told intro to biochem will most likely be offered but biochem 1 might not be. I do not plan on taking biochem 2 before the MCAT. Another one of my concerns is if a school requires biochem and will not accept intro to biochem. I'll post the course descriptions and their numbers below.

Principles of biochem says its for "non-biochemistry majors", which classification I fall under, but I just wanted to double check before signing up for anything.

Thanks in advance!

BCHM 470 - Biochemistry I
Life processes from a chemical viewpoint: structure/function relationships of biomolecules with emphasis on proteins, enzyme kinetics, and mechanisms of action. Three hours lecture.

BCHM 370 - Principles of Biochemistry
A concise but comprehensive survey of various areas of biochemistry designed for non-biochemistry majors. The course follows the standard approach to the subject including a description of cells, their structure and constituent macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids), enzymology, bioenergetics, intermediary metabolism, and gene regulation. Students cannot take both Biochemistry 370 and 470 or 471 for any combination of concentration, cognate or minor requirement. Three hours lecture.

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[Fancy_Feast]

I took something like the "principles of biochemistry" class you have listed and I felt well-prepared for the MCAT.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Regardless of which class you take, 1 summer quarter will not cover all the metabolism that you need for the MCAT (oxidative phosphorylation, gluconeogensis, lipid metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway) etc.. You're only going to hit the macromolecules and enzyme kinetics. In other words, you're going to half to self teach yourself about 6 weeks worth of material either way.

Also according to MSAR a lot of schools do not really specify which biochem they want. They usually just say 3 or 4 units (1 quarter or 1 semester)

 

[Pholaffle]

I would consider reaching out to professors for each class to review the syllabus and determine whether the topics covered align with what is tested on the MCAT. I took a survey course similar to the one you listed and although it was nowhere near as rigorous as the biochem courses deemed acceptable by the prehealth office, I felt adequately prepared for the MCAT with only maintenance studying with Kaplan review materials.

 

[Hopeful_vet]

Regardless of which class you take, 1 summer quarter will not cover all the metabolism that you need for the MCAT (oxidative phosphorylation, gluconeogensis, lipid metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway) etc.. You're only going to hit the macromolecules and enzyme kinetics. In other words, you're going to half to self teach yourself about 6 weeks worth of material either way.

Also according to MSAR a lot of schools do not really specify which biochem they want. They usually just say 3 or 4 units (1 quarter or 1 semester)

My school has a summer session but it's a full semester (4 credit) course. Meets for twice as long every week. I think most schools are like that.

The intro corse should be fine. I took the 3000 level biochem for non biochem majors and it hit everything that was on the MCAT.


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[aldol16]

It sounds like both will prepare you - they're just catered to different styles of learning. The first seems more suited to people with strong chemistry backgrounds who like to understand chemical mechanisms and structures whereas the second seems better suited for biology majors who don't think as mechanistically.

 

[wizzed101]

The BCHM 370 sounds too loaded to learn anything meaningful. You will end up with tons of memorization without much insight. Take the 470.

 

[Gilakend]

Thanks you guys for the replies, I have to take a class for my major called "Physiological Chemistry" which my adviser says is the same thing as biochem. She said she feel it will prepare be well enough for the MCAT (although she is NOT a pre-med advisor, just one for my major). If the material is similar do you guys foresee any issue with taking a class that is merely named differently? For example say a school requires biochem, if physio chem touches on the same topics will they accept it? I'll post the course description below, I don't want to not be able to apply to certain schools because I didn't take the proper class. This will be semester 1 and 2 next year (junior) so I will have completed the 1st semester and be partially through the second.

Sorry for the complex question, just want to make sure I'm on the right track.

Thanks!

MBC 3550 - Physiological Chemistry I: Structure And Function Of Biological Macromolecules
An examination of the levels of structure of proteins, nucleic acids, other biomolecules and biomolecular assemblies.

MBC 3560 - Physiological Chemistry II: Chemical Regulation Of Cells And Organisms
An examination of the chemistry and regulation of metabolic processes in cells, interacting cells and tissues.

 

[wizzed101]

You should take the one taught by the respective department. I can foresee some problems when you try to classify courses and fulfilling pre-reqs. And from the description, I don't see enzyme kinetics, which is like THE most important thing you need to know for the MCAT biochem. But hey, you may not have any biochem in your version at all!