biotech on mcat.. pcr, southern blot, northern blot...

[imapremed]

so what from bio tech do we need to know? i mean i know pcr, southern blot, northern blot, and certain types of gene cloning - plasmid in bacteria, using vectors to put into bacteria and replicate...

any thing else im missing from this broad topic area for the mcats?

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[chemistryguy]

that sounds like a pretty exhaustive list, I wouldnt worry too much about it. If you did get any specific questions about techniques (which I dont think you would), they might simply be based off a passage.

 

[bambam02]

It is VERY important that you understand how these tools are used in research and how to interpret the results of things like blots and plasmid transformation and ELISA.
Learn the functions of the basic steps in each procedure, and you should be good.

 

[macsta]

It is VERY important that you understand how these tools are used in research and how to interpret the results of things like blots and plasmid transformation and ELISA.
Learn the functions of the basic steps in each procedure, and you should be good.

Yep. Lab technique questions are usually free points because they are are distinctively different.

 

[ridethecliche]

Missing mass spec and a few of the other more chem/physics-y ones that I can't remember the names of right now.

 

[Kangaroo Paw]

Wait, I thought that only organic chem lab techniques were directly tested on the MCAT? I didn't realize that biology lab techniques were as well? How much of the bio lab stuff do you need to know? Like, the theory/mechanism behind PCR?

 

[paul411]

The stuff covered in review books (I used EK) is more than enough.

 

[bridgestone]

just wondering why i dont see these listed on the aamc bio syllabus?

 

[whiteshadodw]

just wondering why i dont see these listed on the aamc bio syllabus?

because if it shows up in a passage, it will be explained really well.

 

[rockyDoctora]

I think more probable techniques include:

Chromatography (specific types like HPLC, column, gas, etc.)
Mass Spec
IR
NMR
UV-Vis
Extraction
Distillation

....and a couple others im probably missing