Biochem Book Rec

[ilovelucy]

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Anyone have suggestions for a an excellent biochem book they used in their 1st year in medical school?

Thanks a million!

 

[arsenewenger]

Biochemistry (Biochemistry (Berg))
By Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer

This is a bad book.

 

[nist7]

Stryer and Voet are largely undergrad/grad-style books with too much detail for med school.

Those who did use a book at my school used Lippincott, but most didn't use a book.

Ditto.

I'm in biochem right now and the only use we have for our 20lb text is the review questions at the end, which the professor will occasionally use on an exam. Unless you're real gun-ho and want to actually read the text; the handouts and lecture notes from class and a review book, like Lippincott's (which some are using) are more than enough.

 

[nlax30]

We use "Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach" by Allan D. Marks.

I really like it so far, as much as one could like a biochem book. Very clinically relevant, well written so it's fairly easy/quick to get through sections, etc...

Wish I could say the same for our Embryo book though.

 

[sendwich]

Lippencott 👍

 

[chrischanx]

LWW👍

 

[SomeDoc]

We use "Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach" by Allan D. Marks.

I really like it so far, as much as one could like a biochem book. Very clinically relevant, well written so it's fairly easy/quick to get through sections, etc...

Wish I could say the same for our Embryo book though.

Yes, a thumb up on this one. Lots of clinical relevance.

 

[Engin]

Does Marks help for tests?

 

[nlax30]

Does Marks help for tests?

Well it'll depend where they take questions from. I'm in a PBL program so I don't have any lectures, we just read the books and test questions come from a bank of questions they take from the book.

I guess if you are in a traditional lecture pathway then most people just use the lectures and are fine. For me personally it helps to read about a pathway in a larger context, it helps me understand it better than just looking at condensed notes, I'm not that good at memorizing. 🙂

 

[nist7]

I'm in a PBL program so I don't have any lectures, we just read the books and test questions come from a bank of questions they take from the book.

At the expense of sounding like a n00b (though I shouldn't feel that bad since I am only MS0.5) what does PBL stand for? I've been seeing that initialism on several posts now....

 

[nlax30]

At the expense of sounding like a n00b (though I shouldn't feel that bad since I am only MS0.5) what does PBL stand for? I've been seeing that initialism on several posts now....

Stands for "Problem Based Learning", basically a style of curriculum in which you are presented with a "problem" in a small group setting, identify what you need to learn to solve the "problem", go study/learn it on your own, and then come back to the group briefly discussing what you found, and then move on to the next part of the problem....rinse, later, repeat....

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem-based_learning

Mentor/Faq thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=410585

 

[SB100]

For anyone who has done biochemistry in college, what are your takes on Lehninger's Principles of Biochemistry? How similar/different is the material in that book compared to medical school biochemistry?

 

[nlax30]

For anyone who has done biochemistry in college, what are your takes on Lehninger's Principles of Biochemistry? How similar/different is the material in that book compared to medical school biochemistry?

Is that a general Biochem text? Not familiar with that particular one but I'm not sure I'd use a general undergrad biochem text because, at least what I've seen so far, you'll go into great depth on some pathways, but you really won't need to look at specific mechanism of the individual reactions that you'll go into in undergrad. My med school's bio chem text is not that big really, plus it has a lot of more clinical info than my undergrad text had. Just written for diff. puposes.

 

[DrMichelle]

I used Lehninger in undergrad, and thought it would be a good reference for MS1. Instead I ended up buying a study book (Lange) because Lehninger just had too much detail and not enough clinical coorelation.

If your professors are not clear, sometimes it is helpful to go through the text, but most of the time it is just detail beyond what you will be required to know. I do think that a lot of the illustrations in Lehninger are very helpful, as are the cases that usually end each chapter.

 

[nist7]

Stands for "Problem Based Learning", basically a style of curriculum in which you are presented with a "problem" in a small group setting, identify what you need to learn to solve the "problem", go study/learn it on your own, and then come back to the group briefly discussing what you found, and then move on to the next part of the problem....rinse, later, repeat....

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem-based_learning

Mentor/Faq thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=410585

Thanks 👍

 

[EMH]

Lippincott's illustrated review is gold if you're visual.

 

[peace zealot]

if you are a beginner in biochem course then one of the best options is LIPPINCOTT...if you dont have basics (not studied during graduation) use this book,it seems extensive but believe me its not!
along with that use some good review book from where you can practice mcqs etc........but lippincott goes good.

 

[ericana_83]

I like Lehninger.

 

[Snarky]

Textbooks are a good source of reference if you don't understand a topic. But they are too detailed to be used as an efficient study source. 'Devlin's Biochemistry with clinical correlation' is a good textbook if you need to buy one.

I recommend Lippincott's illustrated review and the BRS biochemistry.

 

[emtp6811]

Biochemistry (Biochemistry (Berg))
By Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer

I second this book. Much better than Voet. Succinct, easy to read. Great in conjunction with Lippincott. Although, I'm still pre-med, so this post isn't even worth it's weight in salt...

 

[taylor6902]

.

 

[elatedMD]

👍 Lippincott's and Harpers

 

[docnaan]

.

 

[Slide]

If you have a biochemistry book with mechanisms or mathematical derivations, it's probably too detailed for medical school. Lippencott and BRS biochem work very well.