Molecular Biochem slump!

[emlopez2]

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Anyone out there also having problems retaining info relating to DNA/RNA and the difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Does anyone know how heavily this stuff is tested on the boards. The FA and Step Up books seem to cover it pretty thoughly but i feel I would be burning brain cells trying to commit every step and process to memory. How do you go about studying this stuff and is it worth the time??

 

[Terpskins99]

Anyone out there also having problems retaining info relating to DNA/RNA and the difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Does anyone know how heavily this stuff is tested on the boards. The FA and Step Up books seem to cover it pretty thoughly but i feel I would be burning brain cells trying to commit every step and process to memory. How do you go about studying this stuff and is it worth the time??

You will have molecular genetics, its just a matter of luck that determines how much. But its not as high yield as several other topics (including biostats... don't underestimate that).

At the very least, I would know the players involved. Which DNA versus RNA polymerase is associated with prok/euk. Same with ribosomes. What makes up a nucleotide... etc, etc.

 

[UCLAstudent]

The FA and Step Up books seem to cover it pretty thoughly

Actually, I felt that molecular bio was a weakness of First Aid. I'm not familiar with Step Up, so I can't comment on it. I used First Aid and the 1999 edition of HY Molecular/Cell Biology. That was plenty. Keep in mind that for the molecular questions on the USMLE --- at least in my case --- it's more about how well you can reason than what you've memorized ; I didn't get any questions asking which enzyme acts at a given step during transcription, but I had some asking which lab technique would be most appropriate to illustrate ______.

 

[emlopez2]

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully my review books i have will be enough for any molecular questions I run into. Until then I guess I will put at least a little effort into these sections.