Difference between biochem and organic chemistry

[blankguy]

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What is the difference between the two? I was told Orgo is about "memorization of reactions and molecules" while biochem is more about "knowing concepts".

 

[flong]

I found both of themm to be pretty simple compared to physical biochemistry, but Organic you have to think i.e. mechanism reactions, synthesis reactions, while biochem deals a little bit more with memorization, i.i splitting proteins down. How enzymes works, antibodies, etc....

 

[blankguy]

Also what's this that people put up about coasting the 2nd half of organic chemistry?

 

[flong]

Dunno...It is more of a continiuation of the first with just more reactions to remember. You also have to know how to chart molecules via spectroscopy and NMR which is a bitch sometimes

 

[blankguy]

Did you ace organic chemistry?

 

[flong]

My GPA is a 3.94. The only B I made in college was in Physical Biochemistry 2. That makes Organic look like pre-algebra

 

[blankguy]

Good thing I don't have to take physical biochemistry.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by blankguy
What is the difference between the two? I was told Orgo is about "memorization of reactions and molecules" while biochem is more about "knowing concepts".

In my courses it was completely the opposite.

I've never memorized as much in my life as I had in biochem, whereas organic chemistry (my best and favorite subjnect) was merely knowing concepts (such as nucleophiles/electrophiles) and applying them.

The difference then is that organic chemistry builds a foundation, and biochemistry is applying that foundation to physiologic pathways and reactions.

 

[flong]

Hey gavin, do pre-dental students have to worry about physical biochem in dental school?

 

[UBTom]

Biochem at most dental schools are basic biochem-- Metabolic pathways. Stuff like Glycolysis, Krebs, Gluconeo, PP Shunt, Beta Ox, FA Synth, Ox-Phos, urea cycle, etc. And those are usually presented with control/homeostasis and clinical correlations (and looks suspiciously like physiology). Some schools also puts basic molecular biology under Biochem (such as what Tink had to go through at UCSF). My school also has a mol bio class billed as "second-semester biochem".

Nothing as advanced as physical biochem, so I wouldn't worry.

My undergrad background was strong in mol bio and biochem so I didn't have any trouble with either in dental school. Thank goodness. 😀

Through it all, my trusty copy of Stryer's has been good to me.

 

[flong]

<---Thanks the good lord that that class is in the past.

 

[Thaxil]

Organic chemistry and Biochemistry have almost nothing in common. The only thing organic chemistry useful in biochemistry is knowing the basic chemical activities of functional groups. Typically, what biochemistry expect is: the molecule here ---(enzyme name, co factors, regulators, inhibitors)--> to get this molecule.

I agree with Gavin,
Organic chemistry is purely concept based. Most people that have trouble when they rely on memorization, which is the wrong way to go.
Biochemistry is more memorization only because there is so much to know. My ultimate goal in studying biochemistry was to learn the patterns. If you are looking, patterns between many metabolic pathway can be observed such as Krebs and Beta oxidation, Gluconeogenesis and glycolysis, the urea cycle and something else. Also a lot of the inhabitation and regulation of (limiting step) enzyme is logical.

I was one that coasted the second half of o-chem because I gain such a strong understanding of the concept during the first half. All I did during the second half was applied what I learned.