Biochem: how in-depth?

[Little Etoile]

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I'm looking at the biochem in my TPR book and it is crazy in-depth. I was looking for tips in the mnemonic thread I don't really even see anything addressing these topics, such as help with memorizing the details of cellular respiration or gene expression. TPR states that they add in more bio than you need *just in case*, but now I'm wondering if they added *way* too much and I'm wasting my time.

Any help? Biochem was my *worst* subject in college and I am really hoping that I only need to know a few major things. 😀

Thanks!

 

[tessa108]

In my experience, content on biochemical pathways wasn't all that that in-depth. You're most likely not going to need to know the steps of glycolysis or the TCA cycle in detail. Just focus on the main ideas and overall principles. I'd understand how chemiosmosis works, for instance, but don't bother memorizing all the contents of the electron transport chain.

 

[mterp45]

I'm looking at the biochem in my TPR book and it is crazy in-depth. I was looking for tips in the mnemonic thread I don't really even see anything addressing these topics, such as help with memorizing the details of cellular respiration or gene expression. TPR states that they add in more bio than you need *just in case*, but now I'm wondering if they added *way* too much and I'm wasting my time.

Any help? Biochem was my *worst* subject in college and I am really hoping that I only need to know a few major things. 😀

Thanks!

The most useful aspect of biochem which I would say is the most tested is the enzymatic role proteins in relation to physiology, genetics, cancer biology etc.. etc.... However, knowing your biochemical pathways can prove to be extremely important depending on the passage.

 

[bozz]

I never took Biochem... and didn't feel like it was necessary on all the practice tests I took + the real deal

 

[Vihsadas]

The most useful aspect of biochem which I would say is the most tested is the enzymatic role proteins in relation to physiology, genetics, cancer biology etc.. etc.... However, knowing your biochemical pathways can prove to be extremely important depending on the passage.

Agree. Although there's nothing *technically* required in 'in depth' biochem on the MCAT, being familiar with it would definitely be beneficial if you were to get such a passage.
The things you should know are the concepts of how enzymes work, and the concepts and logic relating to glycolysis, the TCA cycle, the ETC. For instance, it would probably be helpful to know how the ETC functions, and how it helps generates ATP rather than to know the specific components of it.