One detailed thread concerning biochem classes and topics.......

[MikePlayingDoc]

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I would like to start a thread concerning biochem classes and topics. Specifically, I would like to know how your biochem classes are divided and which ones help with the MCAT. I am going to try to take as many biochem classes before the MCAT because they cover a lot of the MCAT topics in more detail than the intro bio classes. I am also under the impression that much of the O-Chem on the MCAT is presented in the context of biochem.

Here are the classes offered for undergrads in biochem at my school:


Introduction to Biochemistry; The chemistry of biological systems.

Protein Structure and Function; Cellular synthesis of proteins, protein structure/function, enzyme mechanisms.

Cellular Processes; Biosynthesis and metabolism of nucleic acids, structure and replication of DNA, control of gene expression, signal transduction.

Metabolism; Glycolysis, photosynthesis, biosynthesis, metabolism.

Biochemistry Laboratory; Experiments in biological preparations, colorimetry, chromatography, and radioisotope techniques.


How are the classes divided at your school ? Which ones have you taken ? What were your favorite topics ? Which ones helped you with certain MCAT topics ?

 

[AxlxA]

Intro to biochem is all you need. Just take those prep courses like princeton or kaplan.

main things are glycolysis, kreb, Electron transport chain, calvin(not really important), and photosynthesis. more biochem like amino acids are L, sugars are D. how those structures are. these are all covered in intro to biochem i believe.

I see that you are trying to fit in so i wont be like others and flame you for always asking the same question.

 

[MikePlayingDoc]

I see that you are trying to fit in so i wont be like others and flame you for always asking the same question.

Thank you. Yes I am trying to fit in. I will not stir the pot anymore.

 

[Medikit]

I didn't really find Ochem to be presented in the context of biochem and I definitely didn't use my previously obtained biochem knowledge on those sections. I think that all of those sections definitely sound like fun but none of them are really needed. Introductory Biochem should suffice as AxIxA said. The thing is I am suspicious that the introductory class is actually intended for non-majors whereas the other classes look like part of a series for majors. You might want to find out which classes will count toward whatever major you are before picking the class.

Here is how mine is separated.

We have an introductory course for nutrition and physical therapy majors.

We have Biochem I:
A general study of the chemistry of biomolecules. Conformation and function of enzymes and other proteins; metabolism, energy generation, and storage; brief discussion of chemistry of DNA replication, transcription and translation, and of important physiological processes.

And Biochem II:
Advanced topics in biochemistry. Biosynthesis of lipids, steroids, amino acids, and nucleotides. Comprehensive study of the chemical role of DNA and RNA in replication, transcription, protein synthesis, and viral activity.

 

[musiclink213]

At my school, we have basically 2 biochem lectures, plus labs and seminar things. Anyway,

Biochem 1:
Studied proteins, amino acids, enzyme function, DNA, metabolism, a lot on metabolism.

Biochem 2:
All the biochem professors teach a part of the course, so we learn about whatever their specialty is. The articles we read tend to change every year the course is taught, but basically we covered the structures of DNA (don't ask me what it was about, I have no clue), metalloproteins, and cell membranes.

I found biochem 1 more helpful for the MCAT, although I didn't think there was that much biochem on it. And we really didn't use O-chem at all. Which is wonderful for me.