Biochemistry vs Bioorganic chemistry

[DrDeus]

I'll be starting med school in the fall, and I am trying to prepare with one last class. I thought I would just take biochem because it's so highly recommended to take before starting, but I just found out that a professor I had for organic chem (who I liked a lot) is teaching a class in Bioorganic chem. I have no clue what the difference is. Here are the class descriptions:

Bioorganic chem: CHEM 454
Application of the principles and tools of organic chemistry to the understanding of biological processes. Topics include enzyme chemistry, chemical sequencing and synthesis of DNA and proteins, and molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy. Taught simultaneously as CHEM 434/CHEM 534.

Biochem: CHEM 302
Structure and function of biological molecules; enzyme kinetics, mechanism and regulation; generation and storage of metabolic energy; utilization of energy in biosynthetic processes; cellular regulation of metabolism and applications in medicine, agriculture and the biotechnology industry.

Which should I take???
Thanks

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[junebuguf]

It sort of sounds like Biochem is a pre-req for Bioorganic Chem. I dont know what Enzyme Chemistry is, as opposed to Enzyme Kinetics. The latter is really the important aspect of enzymes, at least as far as medical professionals are concerned. The former seems to be about advanced aspects of enzyme interactions which might interest an Organic Chemist or Pharmaceutical Researcher. You really only need to know the basics about how enzymes *actually* interact with substrates. Its more the rate of reaction and the factors that speed it up/slow it down that are important.

I'm taking Biochem right now and have glazed over some medical biochem lecture notes from a friend of mine who's in med school, and what I'm learning in Biochem (which is the same as your CHEM 302 class) fits those topics covered in, or that form the basis of, Medical Biochem.

 

[DrDeus]

It sort of sounds like Biochem is a pre-req for Bioorganic Chem. I dont know what Enzyme Chemistry is, as opposed to Enzyme Kinetics. The latter is really the important aspect of enzymes, at least as far as medical professionals are concerned. The former seems to be about advanced aspects of enzyme interactions which might interest an Organic Chemist or Pharmaceutical Researcher. You really only need to know the basics about how enzymes *actually* interact with substrates. Its more the rate of reaction and the factors that speed it up/slow it down that are important.

I'm taking Biochem right now and have glazed over some medical biochem lecture notes from a friend of mine who's in med school, and what I'm learning in Biochem (which is the same as your CHEM 302 class) fits those topics covered in, or that form the basis of, Medical Biochem.

Thanks for the reply. I should have mentioned that both classes have the same pre-reqs, even though it does seem as if bioorganic would require a background in biochem.

 

[Medikit]

Bioorganic sounds like more fun to me. But Biochemistry will probably prepare you better for medschool biochem.

 

[lehavre]

I'll be starting med school in the fall, and I am trying to prepare with one last class. I thought I would just take biochem because it's so highly recommended to take before starting, but I just found out that a professor I had for organic chem (who I liked a lot) is teaching a class in Bioorganic chem. I have no clue what the difference is. Here are the class descriptions:

Bioorganic chem: CHEM 454
Application of the principles and tools of organic chemistry to the understanding of biological processes. Topics include enzyme chemistry, chemical sequencing and synthesis of DNA and proteins, and molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy. Taught simultaneously as CHEM 434/CHEM 534.

Biochem: CHEM 302
Structure and function of biological molecules; enzyme kinetics, mechanism and regulation; generation and storage of metabolic energy; utilization of energy in biosynthetic processes; cellular regulation of metabolism and applications in medicine, agriculture and the biotechnology industry.

Which should I take???
Thanks

Either way, you are a nerd

 

[Medikit]

Either way, you are a nerd

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[DrDeus]

Either way, you are a nerd

Actually, I was accepted early to med school through a program at the end of my sophomore year. So I switched my major from psychobio to psyc, have been slaking off, never took the MCATs (didn't have to because of the program), and I am taking the majority of my classes pass fail this year. I just think I've gotten so lazy I need something to get me back on track before med school hits.

But it was a nice try lehavre.

 

[Elphie]

Bioorganic is basically an extension of Organic that is applied specifically to biological systems/molecules. It's pretty cool stuff. Biochemistry, on the other hand, is basically protein structure/function, metabolism and the like. Biochem would definitely be more helpful in med school even though Bioorganic would probably be more fun.

 

[lehavre]

Actually, I was accepted early to med school through a program at the end of my sophomore year. So I switched my major from psychobio to psyc, have been slaking off, never took the MCATs (didn't have to because of the program), and I am taking the majority of my classes pass fail this year. I just think I've gotten so lazy I need something to get me back on track before med school hits.

But it was a nice try lehavre.

It doesn't matter, you are still a nerd

 

[QofQuimica]

I'll be starting med school in the fall, and I am trying to prepare with one last class. I thought I would just take biochem because it's so highly recommended to take before starting, but I just found out that a professor I had for organic chem (who I liked a lot) is teaching a class in Bioorganic chem. I have no clue what the difference is. Here are the class descriptions:

Bioorganic chem: CHEM 454
Application of the principles and tools of organic chemistry to the understanding of biological processes. Topics include enzyme chemistry, chemical sequencing and synthesis of DNA and proteins, and molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy. Taught simultaneously as CHEM 434/CHEM 534.

Biochem: CHEM 302
Structure and function of biological molecules; enzyme kinetics, mechanism and regulation; generation and storage of metabolic energy; utilization of energy in biosynthetic processes; cellular regulation of metabolism and applications in medicine, agriculture and the biotechnology industry.

Which should I take???
Thanks

I think you are incredibly lucky to have a chance to take a formal bioorganic class. I'd go for it if you're interested in organic chem. So what if it isn't covered in med school. You'll get plenty of biochem once you get there and you won't have any chance to take classes like bioorganic for fun then.