Memorizing in Biochemistry

[Mission Medical]

What are some things that would be helpful to start memorizing for biochemistry this summer before I actually take the course? Everyone says there's lots of information/pathways, etc. to memorize, and I'm much better at courses where conceptualization/math is required. I hate memorizing. So, for example, I've started memorizing the structures/abbreviations for amino acids already. What else would be good to memorize?

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[IniestaDeMiVida]

You could start working on the Kreb's cycle, how blood sugar is modulated, maybe even some gluconeogenesis if you want. You'll be doing a lot of pathways but a good portion will be focused on how your body breaks down sugar, stores it, and releases it.

 

[snorlax]

If you want to memorize something, memorize the structures/pKas of all the amino acids. I wouldn't recommend memorizing any pathways, unless you are also learning in depth the enzymatic reactions at each step of the pathway.

 

[alexlex143]

I know my biochem professor was particularly emphatic about the pathways. Sugar metabolism isn't so bad and the structures aren't difficult to remember. Studying the mechanisms and regulatory steps were helpful because they were pretty conceptual. Focusing on those parts is probably the most important part. Lipids get crazy, IMO. Amino acid metabolism and nucleic acid biochemistry was the easiest and most interesting to me.

Overall, I loved biochemistry but it is indeed a lot of memorization.

 

[IniestaDeMiVida]

If you want to memorize something, memorize the structures/pKas of all the amino acids. I wouldn't recommend memorizing any pathways, unless you are also learning in depth the enzymatic reactions at each step of the pathway.

I feel like it couldn't hurt to know the names of the intermediate structures, even if you aren't learning the reactions, per say. If you were really wanted to study something, that is. Though I agree that the amino acids is definitely a great starting point.

 

[487806]

What are some things that would be helpful to start memorizing for biochemistry this summer before I actually take the course? Everyone says there's lots of information/pathways, etc. to memorize, and I'm much better at courses where conceptualization/math is required. I hate memorizing. So, for example, I've started memorizing the structures/abbreviations for amino acids already. What else would be good to memorize?

Don't waste your time. You'll memorize handily in class. Remember repetition = memorizing.

 

[Snowdon48]

everything you can about cytochrome c

 

[Tappinfool66]

If you want to memorize something, memorize the structures/pKas of all the amino acids. I wouldn't recommend memorizing any pathways, unless you are also learning in depth the enzymatic reactions at each step of the pathway.

I second that. I think knowing the structures and pKas of all of the AAs is very important in any Biochem class, but I think classes vary in terms of what pathways and mechanisms you learn.

 

[487806]

If you want to memorize something, memorize the structures/pKas of all the amino acids. I wouldn't recommend memorizing any pathways, unless you are also learning in depth the enzymatic reactions at each step of the pathway.

I second that. I think knowing the structures and pKas of all of the AAs is very important in any Biochem class, but I think classes vary in terms of what pathways and mechanisms you learn.

Sorry, but none of what you guys said is "very important".

1. Memorizing pKa values of anything is a waste of time. If anything, try to understand qualitatively of what the pKa should be (i.e. acidity/basicity of side-chains etc.).

2. Memorizing structures is good, but really it's not worth it unless you discuss amino acid metabolism.

 

[iforget2]

For those of y'all who already took biochem, would you say it's easier or harder than ochem?

 

[snorlax]

Sorry, but none of what you guys said is "very important".

1. Memorizing pKa values of anything is a waste of time. If anything, try to understand qualitatively of what the pKa should be (i.e. acidity/basicity of side-chains etc.).

2. Memorizing structures is good, but really it's not worth it unless you discuss amino acid metabolism.

Overall, I would agree that you can probably get by in the course with just knowing whether the side chain is acidic, basic, polar, or nonpolar. However, biochemists are very detail-oriented, and it doesn't take that much effort to memorize the actual pKa values.

I don't understand your second comment. In my biochem class, we had to memorize the structures for every intermediate in every pathway, not just for amino acid metabolism.

For those of y'all who already took biochem, would you say it's easier or harder than ochem?

Harder

 

[487806]

For those of y'all who already took biochem, would you say it's easier or harder than ochem?

Definitely harder. No question.

Overall, I would agree that you can probably get by in the course with just knowing whether the side chain is acidic, basic, polar, or nonpolar. However, biochemists are very detail-oriented, and it doesn't take that much effort to memorize the actual pKa values.

I don't understand your second comment. In my biochem class, we had to memorize the structures for every intermediate in every pathway, not just for amino acid metabolism.



Harder

I guess we took two different biochem classes then. Mine focused more on metabolic pathways more so than memorization of random pKa values (although we did cover structures relatively extensively). And it really didn't involve memorizing structures of intermediates and what not. It seems your class is more like biological applications of organic chemistry if not anything.

Regardless of what type of biochem OP is taking, taking a head start in memorizing random pKa values is unnecessary, although I would recommend having a basic familiarity of the structures.

 

[Frazier]

Don't waste your time. You'll memorize handily in class. Remember repetition = memorizing.

This. There is nothing so difficult/complex about biochem that mandates that one study it before hand.

Nothing wrong with glancing through the textbook out of curiosity ("Oh, that will be a cool chapter!"), but studying it is a major waste of time.

 

[Heday]

For those of y'all who already took biochem, would you say it's easier or harder than ochem?

First exam in orgo (freshman year): 100
First exam in biochem (grad level; junior year): 69

After first biochem exam, realized it's a different monster than orgo. Orgo I relied on intuition, you can do a bit for bio, but some of that information is straight recall (the pathways). There is some logic to the memorization (the more indepth you go, the more the pathways make sense). After first biochem exam, I didn't get anything below 95 (so don't panic if you don't do well at first). Remember, memorization is only a part of it... make sure you understand the bigger picture.

What are some things that would be helpful to start memorizing for biochemistry this summer before I actually take the course? Everyone says there's lots of information/pathways, etc. to memorize, and I'm much better at courses where conceptualization/math is required. I hate memorizing. So, for example, I've started memorizing the structures/abbreviations for amino acids already. What else would be good to memorize?

Honestly, memorizing in the summer? Not a good idea... some of the pathways (fatty acid syth, degradation, etc) you won't get to until later in the course. If you're good at the conceptualization, go ahead and do that now (as you're less likely to unlearn/forget these). Work on the "memorizing" when class is in session. Of course, if you're really good at conceptualization the basic of biochem, then the memorizing won't be as tedious.

 

[AlteredScale]

For anyone on the quarter system, I sympathize greatly, going through all those pathways in 10 weeks was a CRAZY. This was my way of studying:

Grab a bunch of blank sheets of paper and start running though mechanisms. Go through all of it, as much as you possibly can. When you've exhausted your memory, look at what you missed and start filling in the spots. Fill in one spot and write the WHOLE pathway out again. I must have done this for 2-3 hours everyday, that time grew as we started adding more and more material. But you need to sacrifice the time to write everything you know on paper. And do that hundreds of times to get it burned into your memory and soul.

There is so much to memorize for metabolic biochemistry, in fact, you're stressing me out by asking that question here. Get off SDN and get to it!

 

[Espadaleader]

OP. Just learn the structures for your amino acids and the pKas. Don't study mechanisms yet because you don't even know you amino acids. Also, unless you know what mechanisms you will cover you will be wasting time.

 

[Espadaleader]

You will cover the Krebs, certain enzymatic reactions, glycolysis etc. You should refresh yourself. Also, review acid-base chemistry. Lastly, figure out if you're taking a biological applications of biochemistry course, or a chemistry based biochemistry course.

If you are, the memorizing mechanisms would be a good idea. Sorry about that. Chemistry based courses are much more focused on that.

 

[Ansar]

My suggestion to the OP: Wait until the semester starts. Every professor is different. As for amino acids, we only had to know which had a charge (and which were + or -) and which were polar/nonpolar, and the pKa's at which it picked up or lost a charge...(I think only for the charged ones -- Lys, His...another pos. charged one and two negatively charged ones) just those types of properties (oh, that there are three with aromatic rings). Certainly didn't have to memorize structure of any amino acid, but did have to know the structure of uracil and cytosine (since uracil is deaminated cytosine: C + H2O ---> U + NH3, I believe) for a quiz.

For those of y'all who already took biochem, would you say it's easier or harder than ochem?

Harder...Ochem is basically a math class. Do enough problems and you'll get the reactions down.