Biochemistry Advice

[blazinfury]

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I am sorry to be a bother. I am an aspiring MSTP undergrad who is taking biochem next semester. Does anyone have any good websites or advice or good books or anything that can be helpful for this difficult course? Is there a book that simplifies the material better than a textbook, such a particular review book, etc.?

We are using Biochemistry by Veot (http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyT...47119350X.html). Not sure if it's a good book, but then again I don't really have much of a choice.

I know that biochem is not like any other class, but what study approaches did you guys use. Did you just redraw the rxns a few times, like one would do in orgo, to help with the memorization portion? Thanks so much.

 

[StIGMA]

I have heard that Voet is a good text (although I have not used it).

Spend time with the material, read the text. Open your mind's eye and picture 3D proteins and various interactions between them and other molecules/macromolecules. Generate a genuine interest in how each molecule you study is unique. If understanding the molecular dynamics of various processes (transcription initiation, co-translational ER translocation, whatev) does not interest you, then at least generate an understanding of the complexity (physical chemistry, molecular interactions, context within a cell...) behind it all. When studying pathways, always know how it is regulated before you just jump into substrates/enzymes.

For memorization of pathways, I recommend purchasing a whiteboard and dry erase marker. Write it, erase it, write it, erase it... but do this while you are developing an understanding of why substrates are placed in this order (energetic/etc.), how these steps are regulated, and so on.

As you can tell, I enjoyed biochem. You will only enjoy it IMO if you invest a significant amount of mental energy both in reading the text and in simply stepping away from your text and ruminating for a bit.

 

[computerdorkdan]

IMHO, Voet is the best, whether it's the fundamentals book or the whole text, which seems to be what you're using.

The only pre-biochem advice I have is know your amino acids before you start. Know which ones are hydrophobic/hydrophilic.

One thing I did throughout the semester is I got a 3'x4' poster board and wrote out the pathways as I learned them to help me understand how they all fit together. It's nerdy, yes, but it helps tremendously.

 

[GliaGirl]

I personally really like Lehninger's Principles of Biochemistry. <http://bcs.whfreeman.com/lehninger/>

I agree with memorizing the amino acids (know which ones are acidic, which ones are basic, which ones can form various cross linkages and bonds to contribute to the tertiary structure of proteins, etc), and I would add memorize the structures of the nucleobases for both DNA and RNA, and the structure of ATP. Ask an upperclassman who has already taken the course which structures the teacher makes you memorize for the exams, and memorize those.

 

[Matt105]

I agree with GliaGirl. I got a BS in Biochemistry last May and Lehninger was my bible. 🙂 Voet just got overly wordy sometimes without providing a better explanation IMO. Some of my classes required Voet, most required Lehninger.

edit:

You should memorize the basic structure of an amino acid/nucleotide/carbohydrate (if feeling good, memorize AA sidechains 😉). The best way I found to memorize these things was to just fill page after page drawing the structures in a little composition notebook I have. I look at mine now and just smile thinking about how exciting I found biochemistry in undergrad (and still do).

 

[itsallthesame]

i don't know if this is an option, but you might want to consider a graduate biochem intro course if there is one offered at your school instead. instead of having to do silly things like memorize pathways and side-chains (which i find incredibly dull) you can learn about effecting pathways and using molecular biology to study cellular biochem. exams might focus less on memorization and more on experimental design, which is what you want to do as a scientist anyway.

 

[bd4727]

i don't know if this is an option, but you might want to consider a graduate biochem intro course if there is one offered at your school instead. instead of having to do silly things like memorize pathways and side-chains (which i find incredibly dull) you can learn about effecting pathways and using molecular biology to study cellular biochem. exams might focus less on memorization and more on experimental design, which is what you want to do as a scientist anyway.

Yes but if you are trying to get a leg up for medical school, this is exactly opposite of what you want. Anyway, see my other post, but you can't get a leg up anyway so this isn't a bad idea.

I wish I would have known about Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochem 4th ed. by P Champe. Use it only as a supplement to Leninger's (which was my Bible), but it puts things in a much better physiological context which is what is lacking in undergrad biochem, in my opinion.

 

[achamess]

Voet Fundamentals is a good book - the best of the undergrad level books I think. I supplemented it with Biochemistry by Berg et al, and the Biochemistry Review book by P. Champe. With this trio, there is little you should have problems with. Just make sure you study diligently, and if possible, get ahead of the class. Also, there is a certain teacher in your biochemistry course who likes to ask 'thinking questions', not just the usual regurgitation. Practice using his old exams and problem sets.

 

[DogFaceMedic]

What is the purpose of the biochem? If it is pre-med then a very good intro with clinical correlates is Marks' Medical Biochemistry (cheap on Amazon). If you have not taken org chem, biochem will be challenging. If it is research level interest in biochem, then Marks' maybe too basic. But I found it a very good intro to give to pre-meds.

 

[yaolihua]

i take a major in biochemistry.. as i know , USA does require pre medical students to take up Bsc (biochemistry )etc in order to be qualified to do undergraduate in medicine right?

So, since i am taking a major in biochemistry, can i continue my master in pharmacy since i am quite interested in pharmacy btw?