Should I take upper div. genetics, or another biochem course?

[Doctoscope]

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I'm looking for stuff to take next academic year, and my current finances and lack of work during COVID-19 means that I need to choose between an upper division genetics course, or an additional biochem course (metabolism). I've completed a year of general bio, and the genetics included in that sequence.

I'm on a career change/GPA repair track if that means anything, and taken about 30 units worth of prerequisites so far; I've gotten an A in all classes so far.

Which class do you think will be more helpful for the MCAT? I heard the genetics on the MCAT is rather basic, and that I'll benefit more from more biochemistry. Thoughts? Thanks for your help.

 

[akg0119]

Have you studied metabolism in another biochem class before? If you've never studied the ins and outs of TCA/glycolysis/etc, then I would recommend biochem for that.

If you've already done that and this would be a more advanced biochem elective, you might find genetics more helpful than you expect! Although there isn't a ton of Mendelian genetics (your traditional punnet squares) on the MCAT, a genetics course might also go through transcription/translation/genes more in-depth. This is covered quite heavily on the MCAT.

 

[penpenclown]

Although there isn't a ton of Mendelian genetics (your traditional punnet squares) on the MCAT, a genetics course might also go through transcription/translation/genes more in-depth.

Mendelian genetics was a single chapter of my genetics course.

 

[akg0119]

Mendelian genetics was a single chapter of my genetics course.

Yes, exactly! And often what you might see in terms of transcription/translation/DNA content in a bio 101 course is super simplified, compared to what you would study in an upper level genetics/mol bio course. OP, if the genetics course you would take covers this type of material, you may want to strongly consider it.

 

[M&L]

I would take biochem. As a biochem major i definitely felt better. I felt like Genetics in medical school is relatively easy to learn within a short period of time. biochem is pretty massive though. I felt like it would have been so much harder to catch up on.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Biochem is pretty decently represented. Metabolism sounds like it would be better than a high level genetics class, considering the genetics on the MCAT tend to be pretty simple.

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors