When you guys say that biochemistry is good to know for the MCAT, which topics from biochem show up on the MCAT that those of us who are studying should try harder to know?
Biochemistry on the MCAT
- Thread starter vashka
- Start date
- Joined
- May 27, 2011
- Messages
- 3,486
- Reaction score
- 82
I personally do not think biochem is that important. I think genetics is more relevant for the mcat IMO.
- Joined
- May 22, 2008
- Messages
- 17,394
- Reaction score
- 9,146
As far as I know biochem isn't explicitly tested on the MCAT. However, reviewing ochem principles in a biological context can be helpful for synthesizing the information as yiu will be expected to do on the test.
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2011
- Messages
- 261
- Reaction score
- 1
I have heard from many people that biochem can be helpful for two reasons. One, it can give you some extra knowledge with which to attack bio/ochem passages that would normally be more difficult to understand. Two (mentioned above) it helps you put ochem in a bio context so you can tackle those questions more easily.
A person who hasn't taken biochem can beat one who did take it on the MCAT; it's not going to make or break you, but there's a chance it could help you a little bit on the bio section. It's also a good idea to take it, because med schools like to see it (many recommend it and some even require it) and you'll be taking it on steroids in M1.
A person who hasn't taken biochem can beat one who did take it on the MCAT; it's not going to make or break you, but there's a chance it could help you a little bit on the bio section. It's also a good idea to take it, because med schools like to see it (many recommend it and some even require it) and you'll be taking it on steroids in M1.
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2011
- Messages
- 18,577
- Reaction score
- 57
I agree, but probably because I'm better at biochem than genetics so I'm worried the test will expose my genetics weakness.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2011
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 0
What particular part of genetics, if you don't mind my asking? I just started reviewing... Will it delve into anything more than the basics?
- Joined
- May 27, 2011
- Messages
- 3,486
- Reaction score
- 82
Population genetics: Punnett square, Hardy-Weinberg equilibriun and pedigree analysis.
Molecular genetics: Replication, transcription and translation.
DNA Technology: Cloning, PCR.
These are pretty much all you need to know
- Joined
- May 22, 2008
- Messages
- 17,394
- Reaction score
- 9,146
The genetics tested on the MCAT is very basic. I think most students cover it in gen bio.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2011
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 0
The most important biochem concepts, IMO, are the general structure and properties of relevant macromolecules, like carbohydrates/sugars, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. There is a lot of overlap with orgo principles in that, but I'd go ahead and memorize the structures of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids, and at least be able to reason out their properties (hydrophobic/-philic, polar/nonpolar, etc.). Being able to apply principles from more disparate subjects to them (e.g., Based on the pKa or pI given, would such-and-such species be protonated at pH 5?) is an MCAT staple, so this is the kind of question/passage you're likely to see if it comes up.
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2011
- Messages
- 18,577
- Reaction score
- 57
Mitosis, Meiosis, bacterial reproduction (transformation, transduction, conjugation, fission), mutations, complete dominance, codominance, incomplete dominance...
