Importance of knowing specific genes

[Bonesaw45]

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Title explains it all pretty much. How many questions came up regarding specific genes (i.e. HLA - A3 for Hemochromatosis)? Do I really need to have these all memorized for an average board score?

 

[McGillGrad]

Average means you know what everyone knows. So know as much as your classmates and you'll be average.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Learn HLAs listed in First Aid.

Do not learn that VHL is on chrosome 3, or that alpha is on 16 and Beta is on 11. Unless you want to. Instant recall like that is generally off the Boards. "Which gene is associated with Fragile X" is, which trinucleotide is Huntingtons is not. The fact that Huntingtons is a trinucleotide repeat is.

For an average board score, know everything in first aid. For an exceptional board score, know everythign about everything in first aid

 

[nogolfinsnow]

Title explains it all pretty much. How many questions came up regarding specific genes (i.e. HLA - A3 for Hemochromatosis)? Do I really need to have these all memorized for an average board score?

Know the oncogenes and tumor suppressors in First Aid. Know the translocations resulting in oncogenes that are in FA. The only HLA one I think you need to know is HLA-B27 for things like ankylosing spondylitis and some of the other seronegative spondylarthropathies (again, in FA).