SN2'd first day

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TexasSurgeon

TexasSurgeon

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EDIT: This was supposed to be a thread about the first day of SN2. However as with all intelligent life, things evolve. This thread has now become a support page for people following the SN2 plan. You can think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for people studying to take the MCAT using the SN2 plan.

EDIT July 1, 2014:
If you are interested in @mehc012's Anki Deck, DO NOT SEND A PM. Here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7if6wgaif98rkoa/mehc012 SN2edCh4s.apkg
**A NOTE: @mehc012 and several others (myself included) want to tell you guys that studying from another person's deck will probably not be as beneficial to you as creating your own cards. Yes you can take advantage of @mehc012's generosity, but you won't get the same advantage. Study the material. Create cards as you go along. You will find it more helpful to your studying. **

EDIT July 22, 2014:
The following is @TBRBiosadist's official MCAT Verbal Reasoning Strategy:
@TBRBiosadist's strategy that got [him] from a 7 average to scoring 13-15 average..

Spend the bulk of your time reading. Up to 3 minutes per passage.
  • Read the first and last paragraph thoroughly to begin with. Understand what the authors main point will be because 90% of questions require nothing more than a general idea.
  • After this, read the entire passage slowly enough where you dont feel like you need to reread sentences for understanding.
Next is just answer questions, there is a few tricks here that work about 90% of the time
  • Unless the passage is asking you about a specific detail, dont look back. READ EVERY ANSWER THOROUGLY AND THEN Answer what makes sense from the general point of the passage. Its very easy to prove a wrong answer to be somewhat correct if you dig hard enough, dont. Answer what your gut says and move onto the next question, dont contemplate to much. With that being said...
  • Answer like you were dropped on the head as a child. Alot of times if Im arguing between two answers, there is the answer that is 100% correct, and one that is 90% correct. Be an idoit and choose the one that seems like it is correct. However.....
  • "Always" is a word to avoid. If an answer uses this word, or definites like it, it is something to avoid. I would say 80% of the time the wishy washy answer is more correct then the highly affirmative one. This leads to my final point....
  • 100% of the time you are not actually looking for the "right" answer in verbal, this isnt PS or BS where 1+1 almost always equals 2 (unless we are talking about the different sedimentation values for Ribosomes). In verbal you are looking for the answer that isnt wrong. Often times an answer will seem very "right" but one aspect of it is clearly wrong, as compared to an answer that isnt wrong, but doesnt seem as right as that answer, these are meant to fool you. Choose the answer that isnt wrong.
I understand that I few of these tips may be at odds with each other. Ultimately you must adjust slightly for each passage, but it comes down to one thing. Read thoroughly. Read every sentence in the passage. Read every question. Read every answer. Then the correct answer will be fairly obvious. This may seem like it takes longer, but it takes much less time than skimming, and then trying to find the correct information later.

Or to summarize in one sentence

Understand what the hell the author is arguing

EDIT July 26, 2014:
@DoctorInASaree uploaded a guide to Verbal Reasoning. If you're interested, it's worth a look. Here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2byivymmqwlvjms/MCAT VR Primer DRSAREE.pdf

EDIT 2, July 26, 2014: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/sn2d-first-day.1074344/page-52#post-15510851
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Just finished the first day of SN2...man is it long and exhausting.

The first day is BR physics chapter (translational motion) + 1/3 of the passages. I felt like I wasn't able to apply the stuff I read into the stuff I was tested on.

Has anyone felt this way when following the schedule? It just seems like the contents of the chapter didn't really stick in my head when I took the practice passages. Will this improve over time?

EDIT 3, March 4, 2015:

For verbal, if you are feeling lost and confused, I highly highly recommend you to look into the MCAT Strategy Course by @Jack Westin. I've been working with him, and nothing comes close to his course and teaching. It's a strategy course, so it will cover everything, not just the VR/CARS section.
 
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Ok this stuff's a trip LOL

I'll go through the chapter... not do too hot on the review passages... but end up doing good on 52-questions test portion's passages.

I PRAY I get the right passages on test day. Lol
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
As soon as they come in, I'll do a BR FL. And then I'll do one every week until I'm done with content review in like 2 weeks. Then I'll do one every 3 days

On another note, reviewing the passages the day after the 2/3s is crazy. it takes forever. How long does it take you guys? i'm about 2 passages in 40 mins
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Idk how much this would help you but I like to space my 2nd 2/3s apart because I'm always trying to play catch up anyway..like I'll do one or two 2/3s a day and continue with review.
 
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avenlea said:
Idk how much this would help you but I like to space my 2nd 2/3s apart because I'm always trying to play catch up anyway..like I'll do one or two 2/3s a day and continue with review.
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I always just wanted to get them over with, so I did them together, but for the first couple chapters it was so many passages that I split them into two days. But for most chapters I did them together.
 
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After finishing content review and realizing that the books didn't cover some AAMC topics....


brzltrs.gif
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
I always just wanted to get them over with, so I did them together, but for the first couple chapters it was so many passages that I split them into two days. But for most chapters I did them together.
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Do you guys have any insight on whether it's terrible to only do 1/3 of the TBR passages? Of course this is given that I will still do all the AAMC and additional practice questions from TPRH science workbook (since these seem to be less TBR-style content drilling). I don't think I'll be able to get to the 2/3 and 3/3 for 80% of these chapters. I could if I pushed my test date back, but just wondering what you guys think - where does this fall in terms of priorities? Should I give up the TPRH science workbook problems and do the TBR passages instead?
 
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ymmit said:
Do you guys have any insight on whether it's terrible to only do 1/3 of the TBR passages? Of course this is given that I will still do all the AAMC and additional practice questions from TPRH science workbook (since these seem to be less TBR-style content drilling). I don't think I'll be able to get to the 2/3 and 3/3 for 80% of these chapters. I could if I pushed my test date back, but just wondering what you guys think - where does this fall in terms of priorities? Should I give up the TPRH science workbook problems and do the TBR passages instead?
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I think it depends how much knowledge you have of the topic. Personally I do as many passages as I can from both TBR and TPRH because I've taken these courses a while back and those little tips and tricks for me come with practice. I know how hard it can be to work and study that's why I had to resign for a bit =/. But honestly I think in the long run you will be happy if you just put in more studying for this exam before it changes. That could mean pushing your test date back so you have more time, doing more passages while accommodating your work schedule, etc. You can do it though!! A lot of people work full time + study and get stellar scores 🙂
 
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ymmit said:
Do you guys have any insight on whether it's terrible to only do 1/3 of the TBR passages? Of course this is given that I will still do all the AAMC and additional practice questions from TPRH science workbook (since these seem to be less TBR-style content drilling). I don't think I'll be able to get to the 2/3 and 3/3 for 80% of these chapters. I could if I pushed my test date back, but just wondering what you guys think - where does this fall in terms of priorities? Should I give up the TPRH science workbook problems and do the TBR passages instead?
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I feel like the TBR passages have prepared me well, and I didn't do any TPR stuff. So, my opinion is drop TPR and do TBR passages instead. But if you like TPR and if its working for you then go for it!
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
What are a few they didnt cover (ill be looking myself but I rather get an idea right now)
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I only had a chance to go through the biology of the BS but just from a SIMPLE look(there might be more or less) I noticed embryology... a lot of the evolution stuff (bottle neck, phylogeny, etc. ), also cell communication stuff like determination.. I mean it's stuff I've covered in bio courses but I am dreading having to go and cross check EVERY LIST. All this money for prep books and I cant TRUST ANYONE. #why
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
I feel like the TBR passages have prepared me well, and I didn't do any TPR stuff. So, my opinion is drop TPR and do TBR passages instead. But if you like TPR and if its working for you then go for it!
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Hey did you go over the AAMC list after your content review or just jump into FLs and see where your weakness might have been?
 
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There were no embryology questions on the SA or any FLs. There were evolution questions. Some stuff on the FLs I didn't see anywhere. For example, do you know what a Marten is? Or a Fily? (These aren't spoilers, I'm using alternate words). There are some questions on the FLs that no one will know except a select few.
 
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Does the TBR Bio book have any evolution stuff on it? I didn't see any. Might want to consult TPR

I think evolution is a significant topic...I mean not SIGNIFICANT but, there were a couple questions on most exams.
 
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orangetea said:
I think it depends how much knowledge you have of the topic. Personally I do as many passages as I can from both TBR and TPRH because I've taken these courses a while back and those little tips and tricks for me come with practice. I know how hard it can be to work and study that's why I had to resign for a bit =/. But honestly I think in the long run you will be happy if you just put in more studying for this exam before it changes. That could mean pushing your test date back so you have more time, doing more passages while accommodating your work schedule, etc. You can do it though!! A lot of people work full time + study and get stellar scores 🙂
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Thanks for the advice! Much appreciated. I think for me as a non-trad this is really a one-shot thing. I have no plans to take the MCAT again after this, and I do want to put my best foot forward come exam day. Due to my very low uGPA, I need a 35+ to have a fighting chance. After I take it I still have to reveal my secret plan to my PhD advisor and then start writing my thesis, possibly start looking into SMPs to make up for my low GPA, blah blah blah... and I need to leave myself enough time to do all that.

My only concern is that if I push it back one more month, what about the content that I studied back in April/May? I will have spent 6 dedicated months total studying by then (basically stretched out SN2ed by 2x). Will doing the 2/3s, 3/3s, etc be sufficient review for old content? I can't go wrong with just constant practice using fresh material and rotating subjects, right?
 
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ymmit said:
Thanks for the advice! Much appreciated. I think for me as a non-trad this is really a one-shot thing. I have no plans to take the MCAT again after this, and I do want to put my best foot forward come exam day. Due to my very low uGPA, I need a 35+ to have a fighting chance. After I take it I still have to reveal my secret plan to my PhD advisor and then start writing my thesis, possibly start looking into SMPs to make up for my low GPA, blah blah blah... and I need to leave myself enough time to do all that.

My only concern is that if I push it back one more month, what about the content that I studied back in April/May? I will have spent 6 dedicated months total studying by then (basically stretched out SN2ed by 2x). Will doing the 2/3s, 3/3s, etc be sufficient review for old content? I can't go wrong with just constant practice using fresh material and rotating subjects, right?
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You're pretty much me. You'll be fine. I stretched mine out. I had to go back to my lab and work after I wrote my thesis and finish some publications and other stuff and studied for a month, stopped for 2, studied a week, stopped for 3, etc. I really buckled down the last two months. Making good short and concise notes helped for reviewing.
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
You're pretty much me. You'll be fine. I stretched mine out. I had to go back to my lab and work after I wrote my thesis and finish some publications and other stuff and studied for a month, stopped for 2, studied a week, stopped for 3, etc. I really buckled down the last two months. Making good short and concise notes helped for reviewing.
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Yes! This is exactly what's been going on with me... I "started" "studying" in January, then had several false starts until about May, but even then I wasn't really able to gain real momentum until July. I'm finishing up all the content review next week, but have basically been studying as if I'm studying for a science test - this is all I could afford to do as I didn't remember anything! I think the consensus seems to be to take the MCAT when you are ready, especially if it doesn't impinge on AMCAS deadlines. I think I will push it back then, and exhaust all my practice materials before I take the exam.
 
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ymmit said:
Yes! This is exactly what's been going on with me... I "started" "studying" in January, then had several false starts until about May, but even then I wasn't really able to gain real momentum until July. I'm finishing up all the content review next week, but have basically been studying as if I'm studying for a science test - this is all I could afford to do as I didn't remember anything! I think the consensus seems to be to take the MCAT when you are ready, especially if it doesn't impinge on AMCAS deadlines. I think I will push it back then, and exhaust all my practice materials before I take the exam.
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I think it's a good decision. But don't wait past January lol.
 
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ymmit said:
Yes! This is exactly what's been going on with me... I "started" "studying" in January, then had several false starts until about May, but even then I wasn't really able to gain real momentum until July. I'm finishing up all the content review next week, but have basically been studying as if I'm studying for a science test - this is all I could afford to do as I didn't remember anything! I think the consensus seems to be to take the MCAT when you are ready, especially if it doesn't impinge on AMCAS deadlines. I think I will push it back then, and exhaust all my practice materials before I take the exam.
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Me too! I had to write my thesis, defend, then start studying for a month, stop again because of grad courses, re-start and so it went until May when I "tried to up my studying" to a more consistent everyday thing. I am now trying to up my studying hours everyday. BTW I was in the same boat and I pushed back my exam for 3 weeks to give myself time to do some practice questions. I am for now just doing TBR because I have no time to go through TPR SW although I've had it for the last year! If I can find a date to push back for a week, I may and use the extra time to do more passages from TPR
 
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jebelali said:
Me too! I had to write my thesis, defend, then start studying for a month, stop again because of grad courses, re-start and so it went until May when I "tried to up my studying" to a more consistent everyday thing. I am now trying to up my studying hours everyday. BTW I was in the same boat and I pushed back my exam for 3 weeks to give myself time to do some practice questions. I am for now just doing TBR because I have no time to go through TPR SW although I've had it for the last year! If I can find a date to push back for a week, I may and use the extra time to do more passages from TPR
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Non-trads taking over the thread!!! :soexcited:
 
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ok now im going to say something and I hope nobody gets offended .. But have you guys ever thought about flapping during the break periods between sections to relief stress??:whistle::whistle::whistle:
 
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I've always thought that figure on the back of the TBR books was really creepy..

For those of you discussing the gaps in TBR/other companies' content review and the AAMC outlines, I've found this website to be a pretty good starting place for those topics: http://mcat-review.org/index.php

Y'all might've already seen this website, but you can click on a section and there's bullet points and info for all the AAMC listed topics (ex. http://mcat-review.org/reproductive-system-development.php#communication )
 
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How often do you guys review your notes that you have made throughout the week and does it help? I honestly have been slacking in that regard. Like I don't even remember many of the formulas I think I should have commit to memory besides the kinematic equations .... any advice?
 
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QueenJames said:
How often do you guys review your notes that you have made throughout the week and does it help? I honestly have been slacking in that regard. Like I don't even remember many of the formulas I think I should have commit to memory besides the kinematic equations .... any advice?
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I seriously start to hate things I have already read, especially if its boring & relates to studying. Since the MCAT is both of those things, I never review notes or make them at all.

When I'm reading, I try to read closely and highlight/Anki anything I find important. When I do the passages, I review by writing on a word doc and add stuff into Anki. Then I just review Anki every day. Trust me, Anki helps a crapload. Most of the times I feel like I learn nothing doing Anki but I'm able to recall stuff with really good retention


On a side note- I can basically skip this entire nitrogen chapter!!! This stuff is everything I did in biochem!
 
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Nope. This chapter of TBR just broke my biggest rule: simplifying things to the point of actively being wrong.

For the record, airplanes do NOT fly because of some bogus, made up, completely nonsensical BS that the air is required to travel over the top and the bottom in the same amount of time.
I loathe when any entity assumes that I am too stupid to understand the real explanations, especially in a case like this, where the misinformation is so widespread and initiated so early in life that it becomes 'truth' even when it's patently untrue.

Is the pressure different on both sides of the wing? Yes. Thus, is the velocity different? Sure, if you ignore the fact that air is a compressible fluid. Is this because air molecules love their buddies and therefore adjust their speed to meet back up with them when separated by the wing, like a gaggle of freshman girls who accidentally got split into separate lines on the way into a party? No. No, no, no, NO.

Planes achieve lift the same way rockets do - by 'throwing' enough air downwards at sufficient velocity to counteract their own weight. Those wings are crazily efficient at accelerating the air around them, and that is super cool. How about we not belittle that fact with bogus, half-arsed explanations which defy common logic?
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
There were no embryology questions on the SA or any FLs. There were evolution questions. Some stuff on the FLs I didn't see anywhere. For example, do you know what a Marten is? Or a Fily? (These aren't spoilers, I'm using alternate words). There are some questions on the FLs that no one will know except a select few.
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I read a LOT of Redwall books as a child (yeah, only as a child :whistle:) so I'm pretty much an indirect expert on rodents and small mammals!
Actually, a LOT of the books I read as a child fed into that...
His Dark Materials - those dæmons tried a LOT of animal forms
Animorphs
Redwall
Clan of the Cave Bear
My Side of the Mountain
etc...
Plus I had a tracking book for some strange reason and used to study the prints of various woodland creatures for fun.
 
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mehc012 said:
Nope. This chapter of TBR just broke my biggest rule: simplifying things to the point of actively being wrong.

For the record, airplanes do NOT fly because of some bogus, made up, completely nonsensical BS that the air is required to travel over the top and the bottom in the same amount of time.
I loathe when any entity assumes that I am too stupid to understand the real explanations, especially in a case like this, where the misinformation is so widespread and initiated so early in life that it becomes 'truth' even when it's patently untrue.

Is the pressure different on both sides of the wing? Yes. Thus, is the velocity different? Sure, if you ignore the fact that air is a compressible fluid. Is this because air molecules love their buddies and therefore adjust their speed to meet back up with them when separated by the wing, like a gaggle of freshman girls who accidentally got split into separate lines on the way into a party? No. No, no, no, NO.

Planes achieve lift the same way rockets do - by 'throwing' enough air downwards at sufficient velocity to counteract their own weight. Those wings are crazily efficient at accelerating the air around them, and that is super cool. How about we not belittle that fact with bogus, half-arsed explanations which defy common logic?
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Yeah I thought that explanation was ridiculous as well.
orangetea said:
another friday night with MCAT books.

tumblr_m32bzzdd2A1ro2ymz.gif
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LOVE freaks and geeks
 
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WOW guys. Massive mistake imo in TBR's nitrogen compounds chapter

look at figure 7-30. They say it's a beta-pleated sheet with antiparallel strands. That's completely false. The way the hydrogen bonds are depicted clearly indicates that this is a parallel stranded beta sheet.

Remember: antiparallel beta sheets are always more stable than parallel beta sheets because their hydrogen bonds are directly across one another. This results in a more stable orientation for hydrogen bonding

http://wiki.chemprime.chemeddl.org/images/1/1a/Parallell_antiparallel_beta_sheet.GIF

@BerkReviewTeach
I'm using 2014 editions
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
Yeah I thought that explanation was ridiculous as well.
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It's been bugging me since middle school. Part of why I love my Physics prof so much was that she always listened, and actually updated her 'flight' lecture after I sent her several links explaining how, while flight does follow Bernoulli's principle (it has to...Bernoulli's is just energy conservation for fluids), the 'equal flight times' explanation is bogus. NASA has some good educational pages on it.
 
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mehc012 said:
It's been bugging me since middle school. Part of why I love my Physics prof so much was that she always listened, and actually updated her 'flight' lecture after I sent her several links explaining how, while flight does follow Bernoulli's principle (it has to...Bernoulli's is just energy conservation for fluids), the 'equal flight times' explanation is bogus. NASA has some good educational pages on it.
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lol

I'm just so happy that i can fly by this nitrogens chapter. literally all background knowledge from having taken biochem 1 and 2 + cell biochem
 
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Ugh discouraged today y'all. Was doing passages in electric currents chapter and realized that I'm 9 days from a FL and some of my scores suck because I don't have things memorized like I need to. General understanding of most things, but I never made flashcards of equations/hormones/etc and I don't know if I have time to before the first FL.

how are you guys handling weaknesses? I feel like there are certain concepts I am VERY weak in, and I don't know if I should do my 3/3rds in just those chapters or do everything as scheduled?

Blah today is not a good motivation day! I got two passages where I got one right (on my 2nd 1/3) and obviously gonna review tomorrow but this first full length in 9 days is really freaking me out. I feel like I'm reaching a point where the panic and fear is going to start impeding my performance because I freak out when I see a hard passage. 🙁 Any tips?!
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
lol

I'm just so happy that i can fly by this nitrogens chapter. literally all background knowledge from having taken biochem 1 and 2 + cell biochem
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still so lost on this chapter lol. I'm gonna spend a portion tomorrow memorizing amino acids, but I might just consider the amount of detail in that chapter a lost cause. Looking at it gives me a panic attack
 
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avenlea said:
still so lost on this chapter lol. I'm gonna spend a portion tomorrow memorizing amino acids, but I might just consider the amount of detail in that chapter a lost cause. Looking at it gives me a panic attack
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i literally would not have been able to get any of this stuff if i hadn't taken biochem courses. so i get it. it's really not something to just pick up on the way they explain it. especially with their explanations of isoelectric calculations. I saw that and reading their explanations was laughably ridiculous. i almost got confused. so i just flipped past

but yeah like i said earlier, just PM me if you're confused on random stuff and i'll do my best

avenlea said:
Ugh discouraged today y'all. Was doing passages in electric currents chapter and realized that I'm 9 days from a FL and some of my scores suck because I don't have things memorized like I need to. General understanding of most things, but I never made flashcards of equations/hormones/etc and I don't know if I have time to before the first FL.

how are you guys handling weaknesses? I feel like there are certain concepts I am VERY weak in, and I don't know if I should do my 3/3rds in just those chapters or do everything as scheduled?

Blah today is not a good motivation day! I got two passages where I got one right (on my 2nd 1/3) and obviously gonna review tomorrow but this first full length in 9 days is really freaking me out. I feel like I'm reaching a point where the panic and fear is going to start impeding my performance because I freak out when I see a hard passage. 🙁 Any tips?!
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You can always start now and make Anki cards on stuff you miss while reviewing chapters!
I have random weaknesses just like you. After content review, it's all FL's for me. 3 FL's per week, and EK1001 in between + practice passages from TBR and maybe TPRHSW. Consider doing that. EK1001 will make you understand basics and passages will get you used to MCAT. I'm definitely not going to sit here and do 3/3s the way SN2 says. I'm just going to work on my weaknesses from the FL's themselves. I'm sick of this structure schedule and want to do what I want lol. I know I should be fine that way

Keep your head up. Most of your improvement will come from taking craploads of practice exams. A friend of mine had to take 5 just to see his score get into 30-32 range. Another dude I know took like 16 practice exams.
 
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avenlea said:
Ugh discouraged today y'all. Was doing passages in electric currents chapter and realized that I'm 9 days from a FL and some of my scores suck because I don't have things memorized like I need to. General understanding of most things, but I never made flashcards of equations/hormones/etc and I don't know if I have time to before the first FL.

how are you guys handling weaknesses? I feel like there are certain concepts I am VERY weak in, and I don't know if I should do my 3/3rds in just those chapters or do everything as scheduled?

Blah today is not a good motivation day! I got two passages where I got one right (on my 2nd 1/3) and obviously gonna review tomorrow but this first full length in 9 days is really freaking me out. I feel like I'm reaching a point where the panic and fear is going to start impeding my performance because I freak out when I see a hard passage. 🙁 Any tips?!
Click to expand...
Anki should be your friend!!! It doesn't look like alot but you will be surprised at how much time you have away from you book but have your phone present , waiting at the grocery store, sitting at the train or on the toilet lol.. So what i do is Ani like crazy. Every equation important facts and a few tricky questions i need to work on reasoning to solve .. You would be surprised of how much you really remember when reviewing flash cards at random from a topic that you did the first week then seeing something you you did in the middle of your review.. Sometimes I mix all my topics together bio chem and physics because i notice when i am rereading my book I get into a strictly Bio frame of mind or a stickily chemistry so this helps me to keep all the topics fresh in my head and keep me on my toes. It also help me with making connections between subjects its like a poor man HAT TRICK DAY.. Also making your own flash cards can be a good way of dissecting a passage, I find i understand stuff more when i rewrite it in my terms.. This is what works for me , I hope it help somewhat!! And I bet you remember alot more than you actually think~!
 
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AS for the amino acids you really dont need to know everything about them. First is just which are which
Basic: HAL Histidine, Arginine Lysine
Acidic: Aspartic and Glutamic acid
NonPolar: MALT VIP pH Glycine (Methionine, Alanine, Leucine, Threonine, phenylaline, and glycine duh)
And everything else is polar.
For specifics know that glycine is just an H. Proline causes turns because of a ring, hisitidine has an imine. Threonine and isoleucine are the only chiral side chains. Methionine is for the start codon AUG, and that cysteine forms disulfide bonds
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
AS for the amino acids you really dont need to know everything about them. First is just which are which
Basic: HAL Histidine, Arginine Lysine
Acidic: Aspartic and Glutamic acid
NonPolar: MALT VIP pH Glycine (Methionine, Alanine, Leucine, Threonine, phenylaline, and glycine duh)
And everything else is polar.
For specifics know that glycine is just an H. Proline causes turns because of a ring, hisitidine has an imine. Threonine and isoleucine are the only chiral side chains. Methionine is for the start codon AUG, and that cysteine forms disulfide bonds
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Don't even remember it like this by category. Just memorize structures and the pKas. That's the easiest. Some of these can be put into multiple categories. For example people say proline is non polar but it really isn't according to hydrophobicity constant.
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
AS for the amino acids you really dont need to know everything about them. First is just which are which
Basic: HAL Histidine, Arginine Lysine
Acidic: Aspartic and Glutamic acid
NonPolar: MALT VIP pH Glycine (Methionine, Alanine, Leucine, Threonine, phenylaline, and glycine duh)
And everything else is polar.
For specifics know that glycine is just an H. Proline causes turns because of a ring, hisitidine has an imine. Threonine and isoleucine are the only chiral side chains. Methionine is for the start codon AUG, and that cysteine forms disulfide bonds
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I always find it easiest to use their 1-letter abbreviations for acronyms. It makes me sad, because they're chronically underused.
So, hydrophobic is the family car - FAMIL VW GP (family VW or jeep)
Hydrophilic, uncharged is Queen cyst QNCYST
The rest are charged
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
Don't even remember it like this by category. Just memorize structures and the pKas. That's the easiest. Some of these can be put into multiple categories. For example people say proline is non polar but it really isn't according to hydrophobicity constant.
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I'm partial to the categories only because I have fond childhood memories of helping my mom come up with acronyms for them when she was studying this stuff while I was in elementary school.
Her textbook said FAMILY VW for the hydrophobic amino acids, which is why I stuck with FAMIL VW GP, even though it's a stretch...I spent over half of my life remembering the other, so I can't fully shake it!

Personally, while I have the structures down pat, I find memorizing random pKas to be the world's biggest waste of time headache, so I don't, even though I know it could theoretically be useful.
 
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