Biochemistry or Human Physiology

[psupredental]

I am deciding whether to take upper level biochem or human physiology before I take the DATs...I can only take one so which would be more helpful for the test?

Thanks

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[nartnad]

although i enjoy physio more, i suggest taking biochem

 

[yuppers]

I would say physio (all the bodily systems are fair game on the DAT).

 

[pbure9]

both will definitely help.
I took physio this year and I'm really happy I did. Although I had to teach most of the material to myself, it was still very valuable. I think it's just more relevant for life lol, but biochem can't hurt either. Thats a tough call.

EDIT:
If you do take physiology, you'll know all the systems inside and out. Although physiology covers a lot in the nervous system and I dont see that much on any practice tests on that subject. I think there is more biochem so maybe you should do that on second thought. Maybe someone who took the DAT can offer better advice.

 

[nze82]

Biochem will not help you whatsoever with the DAT. The DAT is focused on G-chem and two semesters of O-chem, and biochem won't help you obtain a better understand of neither one of these. Physiology, however, will help you tremendously with the bio section of the exam.

 

[alanan84]

Biochem will not help you whatsoever with the DAT. The DAT is focused on G-chem and two semesters of O-chem, and biochem won't help you obtain a better understand of neither one of these. Physiology, however, will help you tremendously with the bio section of the exam.

Right on. Why would you recommend Biochem over phys for the DAT? I don't remember having to identify AA's or draw out the Krebs cycle on the DAT...

 

[Extirpator]

Right on. Why would you recommend Biochem over phys for the DAT? I don't remember having to identify AA's or draw out the Krebs cycle on the DAT...

I don't see how biochem wouldn't be on the dat... I haven't taken it yet, but kaplan covers it, as well as every other outline/source I've looked at.

Although, I would definately suggest physio over biochem. The physio class I took covered 70% of everything that kaplan bb did in the bio section. I took 2 semesteres of biochem and that only applied to maybe 15% of what's in kaplan's bio.

 

[nze82]

I don't see how biochem wouldn't be on the dat... I haven't taken it yet, but kaplan covers it, as well as every other outline/source I've looked at.

Although, I would definately suggest physio over biochem. The physio class I took covered 70% of everything that kaplan bb did in the bio section. I took 2 semesteres of biochem and that only applied to maybe 15% of what's in kaplan's bio.

Perhaps you're looking at a different book. KAPLAN does NOT cover biochem. What may seem like biochem to you are in fact topics related to organic chemistry (Amino Acids, etc.). You might end up seeing 1 question out of 30 o-chem question on this topic (if any at all). So, there's no reason whatsoever one would want to waste his/her time, energy, and money on taking a fullblown biochem course just to be able to answer a single question. Taking biochem over physio is simply madness and a great way to mess up the bio section of the exam, while gaining no additional knowledge for the o-chem section.

 

[alanan84]

I don't see how biochem wouldn't be on the dat... I haven't taken it yet, but kaplan covers it, as well as every other outline/source I've looked at.

Although, I would definately suggest physio over biochem. The physio class I took covered 70% of everything that kaplan bb did in the bio section. I took 2 semesteres of biochem and that only applied to maybe 15% of what's in kaplan's bio.

I'm really wondering what sort of biochem class you've taken...

 

[cmills66]

i would deff recommend taking physio over biochem. i took biochem soph year and physio senior year and its helping me like crazy. the little biochem that appears to be covered in kaplan i would say is like the first 2 weeks worth of topics covered in a college level biochem course in my opinion.

 

[Extirpator]

Perhaps you're looking at a different book. KAPLAN does NOT cover biochem. What may seem like biochem to you are in fact topics related to organic chemistry (Amino Acids, etc.). You might end up seeing 1 question out of 30 o-chem question on this topic (if any at all). So, there's no reason whatsoever one would want to waste his/her time, energy, and money on taking a fullblown biochem course just to be able to answer a single question. Taking biochem over physio is simply madness and a great way to mess up the bio section of the exam, while gaining no additional knowledge for the o-chem section.

I wasn't saying it had a specific biochem section... but yeah, I guess most of what I'm thinking was technically covered in orgo, cell/molec and even gen bio... I guess I just correlated it more to biochem since I just took a year of that, and it's been 2 years since I took orgo... but at least for me, I think biochem really helped to drill all the cycles as well as amino acid information into my head lol.

You're right though, definately far more in depth than anything I would imagine being on the test.

also, I DEFINATELY was not recomending taking biochem over physio.. like I said before, physio covers pretty much 70% of the topics in the bio section.

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

def take physiology

as said before, all systems are fair game

any questions on cell respiration or glycolysis or photosynthesis are simple and can be learned straight from cliffs

 

[lonhosilver]

Taking either one would help you tremendously on the DAT's..... I feel that taking Biochemistry is better to take than Physiology is because biochemistry gives you information on amino acids, both cellular respiration and photosynthesis are in depth and information about glucose, fatty acids, lipid bilayer, proteins, and DNA, CAM Plants, C4 Plants, Calvin Cycle and stuff like that....while Physiology gives you indepth stuff that can be easily read in cliffs.... and I know that biochem can be read in a book also, but i feel physiology is eaiser to teach yourself than biochemistry is....

Main Point: Take Biochemistry

 

[jay47]

Biochem will not help you whatsoever with the DAT. The DAT is focused on G-chem and two semesters of O-chem, and biochem won't help you obtain a better understand of neither one of these. Physiology, however, will help you tremendously with the bio section of the exam.

I've taken both classes, although neither before the DAT. My observations would lead me to take physiology like this observer says. Look on the ADA website and see where they show a breakdown of questions, 9 out of the 40 (approx 25%) will come from human body systems. This is essentially physiology. By taking physiology you will likely help yourself out more. On the other hand, biochem goes into great detail on krebs, proteins, AA, etc.. none of which I had on my DAT. I work for Kaplan, but I think that a lot of the "biochem" they cover really isn't even tested (but then again neither are hormones....lol)

So while both could be beneficial, I would also suggest taking phys. 👍

 

[nze82]

Hormones aren't on the DAT? are you sure? that would seem extremely strange to me...

I can guarantee 100% that you'll see at least one hormone question on your exam!

 

[Extirpator]

that's what I figured ha. thanks