Can you take Biochemistry before Biology?

[BSChemE]

Is it essential to take Biology before you take Biochemistry?

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[drguy22]

Is it essential to take Biology before you take Biochemistry?

yup.

 

[BSChemE]

yup.

Why? Just curious. I think it would be for obvious reasons, but it is not listed as one of the pre-reqs. I was just wondering if it is possible to survive without it.

 

[MadameLULU]

Is it essential to take Biology before you take Biochemistry?

I think you need to have a basic understanding of metabolism before you go into biochemistry. I think if you review some fundamental concepts you will be fine. I don't think a year-long bio course is necessary.

 

[gujuDoc]

Why? Just curious. I think it would be for obvious reasons, but it is not listed as one of the pre-reqs. I was just wondering if it is possible to survive without it.

Because Bio teaches you the basics about things like glycolysis, tca cycle, PDC formation, etc etc.

It teaches you the basics about DNA/RNA etc.

These are things you will do in detail in biochem, but without bio knowledge of the essentials, and essential genchem knowledge of thermodynamics you can't put two and two together.

 

[BSChemE]

Because Bio teaches you the basics about things like glycolysis, tca cycle, PDC formation, etc etc.

It teaches you the basics about DNA/RNA etc.

These are things you will do in detail in biochem, but without bio knowledge of the essentials, and essential genchem knowledge of thermodynamics you can't put two and two together.

So, having an extensive chemistry background will not help?

 

[gujuDoc]

So, having an extensive chemistry background will not help?

Well chemistry will help, but biochemistry involves a lot more memorization and is a lot based on biological concepts of different pathways and enzymes.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are an engineer right?? I'm in the lab for biochem right now, and one of my lab partners is a chemical/biomedical engineering major. She said while a lot of the graphs are similar, the applications are very different.

So it helps to have some of the bio knowledge to be able to put your chemistry knowledge to use in the context you will be learning it.

For instance, it helps to know the basics about glycolysis, pdc, tca, and oxidative phosphorylation, and the difference between carbohydrates and amino acids and nucleotides.

Because those basics are the fundamentals of biochemistry.

 

[CanIMakeIt]

If you can read one of the MCAT books on the cell structure and what orgenelle does what, metabolism, DNA, proteins etc I think you should be fine ... you still have your winter break coming up so I would say that if you can buckle up a little then it is definitely doable.... I am taking biochem right now and I don't think we are using bio that much and whatever we do use, the prof goes over it briefly......so it is definitely doable....... good luck

 

[Wrigleyville]

Understanding chemistry is far more important than understanding biology when taking a biochem class. If you have a strong understanding of chemistry, you will not suffer from not having had any biology courses. You can pick up the basics of biology along the way, but you probably know what you need from high-school bio classes anyway (bare minimum concepts of cells, etc).

 

[fahimaz7]

Why rush it? There's plenty of time for biochem and genetics.

 

[Code Brown]

Is it essential to take Biology before you take Biochemistry?

No, not at all. Just make sure you have a quick read through a biology textbook so you can learn about metabolism and the cell. Most Biochem textbooks will give you a quick overview anyway.

 

[sockandmittens]

For mine all you needed was orgo. And just so you could draw structures with out breaking into a cold sweat.

 

[oniwindu]

For mine all you needed was orgo. And just so you could draw structures with out breaking into a cold sweat.

but I think what others posted are correct: you do need a basic understanding of the cell metabolism (if not at least know what various basic pathways are, ie Krebs, or pentose phosphate shunt, etc etc. I think cell bio also covers basic things in cell signalling (ie G-proteins)), a basic understanding of thermo, different protein "families," orgo ..... and the list goes on. I think a basic cell bio or molecular bio course should be a great introduction into Biochem. Otherwise, you really don't end up putting two and two together. Additionally, I think you'd get a greater appreciation of studying these biochemical pathways or processes in great detail and hopefully understand the bigger picture (don't lose sight of the bigger picture, otherwise biochem becomes a chore). I don't agree that biochem is mainly memorization. I think it involves an understanding of essential concepts, so that once you get these, with a little bit more work, you can really master biochem.

Also, there's a lot of "new" experimental techniques/protocols to cover in detail in biochem and it definitely might help to have a basic bio background to understand these.

Can't you tell I love biochem, though? Remember, learning all these little details of pathways....there really is a purpose to them. I guess we'll find that out in med school. =D