TBR Bio

[Hemorrage]

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Has anyone actually read these books for the content..? I've been using EK Bio which is awesome because its so concise but at the same time i feel like i'm missing out by not reading TBR Bio. Is it worth spending the time to read it? (It looks like a bible)

I don't have any scores to report at the moment since i just did my first Bio 1/3 today..

 

[gettheleadout]

I'm selectively reading TBR Bio in addition to EK Bio. What I do is read the EK Bio chapter, then look through the relevant section (or find it first) in TBR Bio and find which subsections are relevant, different material from EK, and actually worth reading.

Much of TBR Bio is history lessons and superfluous detail on molecular structure or mechanisms. Still, there is a good bit of useful info not covered in EK Bio.

I'm compiling a list of the TBR Bio sections I use to supplement each EK Bio chapter, and I'll post in when I finish my content review and it's complete. 🙂

(If you want I can PM you what I have so far though)

 

[slz1900]

I am using TBR bio for content, with the one exception being the metabolism section. My initial assessment of TBR being too detailed was based off of that chapter, but the rest are actually very good. EK gets a lot of hype I'm guessing because so many people here are bio majors, but the content in EK is super weak and there are a lot of mistakes that people who are strong in bio probably ignore, but they make me doubt the legitimacy of EK in general. TBR is detailed, and learning everything in it would be pointless, but I think that you get a much more conceptual approach whereas ek is really just "here's a term, here's another definition, here's some anatomy". I was scoring around 60 on bio passages using ek at first, but I have been doing better since switching over to tbr for content.

 

[gettheleadout]

I am using TBR bio for content, with the one exception being the metabolism section. My initial assessment of TBR being too detailed was based off of that chapter, but the rest are actually very good. EK gets a lot of hype I'm guessing because so many people here are bio majors, but the content in EK is super weak and there are a lot of mistakes that people who are strong in bio probably ignore, but they make me doubt the legitimacy of EK in general. TBR is detailed, and learning everything in it would be pointless, but I think that you get a much more conceptual approach whereas ek is really just "here's a term, here's another definition, here's some anatomy". I was scoring around 60 on bio passages using ek at first, but I have been doing better since switching over to tbr for content.

I would agree that TBR Bio is valuable. The trick is figuring out what you need to know from it. I'm not a bio major, but I've taken Cell Bio, Genetics, and Physiology and some of the stuff I've seen in TBR Bio is just way too detailed. I would even say to the point that it makes reading for what's important more difficult than it needs to be. That said, that's mainly a gripe about the style of the book (referring specifically to TBR Bio Book II) than the material in it. There are a number of things in TBR Bio that EK either glosses over or outright skips, which I would argue are easy-to-learn, valuable knowledge for the MCAT.

 

[slz1900]

I would agree that TBR Bio is valuable. The trick is figuring out what you need to know from it. I'm not a bio major, but I've taken Cell Bio, Genetics, and Physiology and some of the stuff I've seen in TBR Bio is just way too detailed. I would even say to the point that it makes reading for what's important more difficult than it needs to be. That said, that's mainly a gripe about the style of the book (referring specifically to TBR Bio Book II) than the material in it. There are a number of things in TBR Bio that EK either glosses over or outright skips, which I would argue are easy-to-learn, valuable knowledge for the MCAT.

I agree that you have to learn how to use all of the info in tbr. Memorizing everything in it would not be a good use of time. I actually thought the genetics section was really good in tbr, but I haven't taken a genetics class.

 

[gettheleadout]

I agree that you have to learn how to use all of the info in tbr. Memorizing everything in it would not be a good use of time. I actually thought the genetics section was really good in tbr, but I haven't taken a genetics class.

I just noticed in your previous post that you mentioned mistakes in EK's bio material. Are you referring to the EK Bio content book or their 1001 Bio? I ask because I haven't noticed any errors in the EK Bio content book.

 

[HotHamH2O]

I just finished my second 1/3 of passages from TBR Bio and it is PAINFUL. I scored 75-85% correct on every other subject and maybe got around 25% on the bio. The passages are just way out in left field (mechanisms of the calvin cycle and tracking radioactive carbons in it? c'mon!). My review for bio so far has consisted of EK Lecture 1, EK 1001 for Lecture 1, EK 30 minute exam for lecture 1, and TPR Bio1st chapter. So either I didn't retain anything or TBR is bad.

How are you guys doing with them?

 

[slz1900]

I just noticed in your previous post that you mentioned mistakes in EK's bio material. Are you referring to the EK Bio content book or their 1001 Bio? I ask because I haven't noticed any errors in the EK Bio content book.

There are mistakes in the content book. Off the top of my head, they call beta turns a part of a protein's tertiary structure and say that hCG is released by "the egg" (the whole reproduction section is weirdly written".

 

[Hemorrage]

There are mistakes in the content book. Off the top of my head, they call beta turns a part of a protein's tertiary structure and say that hCG is released by "the egg" (the whole reproduction section is weirdly written".

Thats not necessarily a mistake. Turns come in 2 flavors, type 1 consists primarily of proline residues and type 2 consists primarily of glycine residues. Secondary structure primarily refers to just formation of the alpha helices and beta sheets not the connections between them. In terms of the hCG section i can see what you mean.. they often simplify many concepts that you would learn in a physiology course by simply making a statement but i've yet to find one thats in correct. For example, they might say "low levels of insulin result in glucose uptake in only hepatocytes and cerebral neurons" but they don't explain the reason being that insulin stimulates GLUT receptors to be expressed in most cells.

I just finished my second 1/3 of passages from TBR Bio and it is PAINFUL. I scored 75-85% correct on every other subject and maybe got around 25% on the bio. The passages are just way out in left field (mechanisms of the calvin cycle and tracking radioactive carbons in it? c'mon!). My review for bio so far has consisted of EK Lecture 1, EK 1001 for Lecture 1, EK 30 minute exam for lecture 1, and TPR Bio1st chapter. So either I didn't retain anything or TBR is bad.

How are you guys doing with them?

I think you just need more content review. I did my first 1/3 with TBR Bio yesterday after reading EK Bio Chapter 1 and scored it today, i got a 6/8, 6/7, and a 7/7 but then again i have a strong biochemistry background. I think we all have our weaknesses.. mine is definitely PS as i'm not a quantitative thinker.. i usually get 4-5/7 on PS passages.

 

[gettheleadout]

There are mistakes in the content book. Off the top of my head, they call beta turns a part of a protein's tertiary structure and say that hCG is released by "the egg" (the whole reproduction section is weirdly written".

I haven't read the repro chapter yet, but because this sounded unfamiliar to me I went ahead and checked the protein page, and it definitely doesn't say this. In fact, its only mention of turns at all is in reference to proline, and it doesn't refer to tertiary structure.

So...

 

[janutt345]

Reading their chapters is a waste of time and nobody is missing out on anything by not reading them. They are go into excessive detail for every single topic. Just take comfort in knowing their passages are far more difficult than anything you'll see on the real thing/AAMC practices.

 

[gettheleadout]

Reading their chapters is a waste of time and nobody is missing out on anything by not reading them. They are go into excessive detail for every single topic. Just take comfort in knowing their passages are far more difficult than anything you'll see on the real thing/AAMC practices.

By not reading all of them, sure, but like I said, EK doesn't cover everything...

 

[slz1900]

I haven't read the repro chapter yet, but because this sounded unfamiliar to me I went ahead and checked the protein page, and it definitely doesn't say this. In fact, its only mention of turns at all is in reference to proline, and it doesn't refer to tertiary structure.

So...

The beta turn thing is either in the 30 min exam or one of the in chapter questions. Search on the forum. Someone else asked about the question and the consensus was that ek was wrong. Come to think of it, they also say that chaperones are primarily involved in secondary or tertiary structure (don't remember which), when they assist with the formation of both (again, this is in either the 30 min exam or an in chapter q), not in the content itself.

 

[slz1900]

Thats not necessarily a mistake. Turns come in 2 flavors, type 1 consists primarily of proline residues and type 2 consists primarily of glycine residues. Secondary structure primarily refers to just formation of the alpha helices and beta sheets not the connections between them.

Beta turns are sometimes referred to as "supersecondary structure" but never tertiary.

In terms of the hCG section i can see what you mean.. they often simplify many concepts that you would learn in a physiology course by simply making a statement but i've yet to find one thats in correct. For example, they might say "low levels of insulin result in glucose uptake in only hepatocytes and cerebral neurons" but they don't explain the reason being that insulin stimulates GLUT receptors to be expressed in most cells.

I dunno, saying that the "egg" secretes a hormone is pretty ridiculous/wrong. Maybe EK's physio is enough if you have a strong bio background, but imo it's too imprecise if you're like me and you don't.

 

[Temperature101]

I just finished my second 1/3 of passages from TBR Bio and it is PAINFUL. I scored 75-85% correct on every other subject and maybe got around 25% on the bio. The passages are just way out in left field (mechanisms of the calvin cycle and tracking radioactive carbons in it? c'mon!). My review for bio so far has consisted of EK Lecture 1, EK 1001 for Lecture 1, EK 30 minute exam for lecture 1, and TPR Bio1st chapter. So either I didn't retain anything or TBR is bad.

How are you guys doing with them?

25% in bio is low...I scored 55% in my 2nd 1/3 bio and I am gonna go over these chapters one more time. However, I scored above 80% in EK 1001 bio...EK bio seems to be easy.

 

[gettheleadout]

The beta turn thing is either in the 30 min exam or one of the in chapter questions. Search on the forum. Someone else asked about the question and the consensus was that ek was wrong. Come to think of it, they also say that chaperones are primarily involved in secondary or tertiary structure (don't remember which), when they assist with the formation of both (again, this is in either the 30 min exam or an in chapter q), not in the content itself.

Searching SDN for "beta turn" gives me very few results, none of them relevant. I just checked the 30-minute exam for the first chapter and it's not in there. Further, I checked all of the in-text problems and it's not there either. I conclude this question is not present in EK Bio. It may exist in EK 1001 Bio, but that is known to have errors.

Moving on, yes, the 30-minute exam for the first chapter cites chaperones as aiding formation of tertiary structure. Can you cite a source that shows that they assist in secondary structure as well? I find this unlikely given A: the structure and function of chaperone proteins and B: the fact that I can't find this anywhere on the internet.

 

[slz1900]

Searching SDN for "beta turn" gives me very few results, none of them relevant. I just checked the 30-minute exam for the first chapter and it's not in there. Further, I checked all of the in-text problems and it's not there either. I conclude this question is not present in EK Bio. It may exist in EK 1001 Bio, but that is known to have errors.

Moving on, yes, the 30-minute exam for the first chapter cites chaperones as aiding formation of tertiary structure. Can you cite a source that shows that they assist in secondary structure as well? I find this unlikely given A: the structure and function of chaperone proteins and B: the fact that I can't find this anywhere on the internet.

Here you go (I'm not sure if you think I'm making this up or what?):

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=643533&highlight=beta+turn

I don't have the book in front of me so I might have the wording a bit off, but EK says something that is not technically correct about proline's role in tertiary/secondary structure (and is definitely too ambiguous/debatable to be representative of a real aamc question).

As for chaperones, some are U shaped with sticky ends that bind the amino and carboxyl terminal of an alpha helix or beta pleated sheet and pull it so that it only has primary structure (I just took a biochem course devoted to proteins and we talked about this). I feel like you'd have luck googling chaperone + secondary structure (edit: I just did this and the third result down talks about a complex that modulates secondary structure). I don't really want to derail this thread anymore, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[gettheleadout]

Here you go (I'm not sure if you think I'm making this up or what?):

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=643533&highlight=beta+turn

I don't have the book in front of me so I might have the wording a bit off, but EK says something that is not technically correct about proline's role in tertiary/secondary structure (and is definitely too ambiguous/debatable to be representative of a real aamc question).

As for chaperones, some are U shaped with sticky ends that bind the amino and carboxyl terminal of an alpha helix or beta pleated sheet and pull it so that it only has primary structure (I just took a biochem course devoted to proteins and we talked about this). I feel like you'd have luck googling chaperone + secondary structure (edit: I just did this and the third result down talks about a complex that modulates secondary structure). I don't really want to derail this thread anymore, so I'll leave it at that.

Well here I am, not familiar with the term "beta turn," looking for that exact wording. 😛

So I see the question referenced by that thread. I don't know enough about proteins to examine the answer further. You're right though, that's an odd question, because I can see it being both secondary and tertiary.

I did the search too and maybe we're looking at different articles but what I'm seeing is about determination of the secondary structure of the protein in question, which happens to be a chaperone. Whatever though, this is most likely too detailed to be relevant for the MCAT.

 

[HotHamH2O]

25% in bio is low...I scored 55% in my 2nd 1/3 bio and I am gonna go over that chapter one more time. However, I scored above 80% in EK 1001 bio...EK bio seems to be easy.

Yeah, I know it's low, but I don't understand how I can score 70-80% on all the other subjects and bomb the bio unless what I reviewed is inadequate and/or TBR bio is just ridiculously hard. I'm going to do 3 bio passages from TPR tomorrow and report back. I've heard that is much more accurate to the difficulty of the actual MCAT. If you do a quick search on here, most people say that TBR bio is way harder and detailed than it needs to be. We shall see.

 

[HotHamH2O]

Did 3 passages of TPR today for molecular biology chapter. Much more realistic expectations from these passages and I've heard good things on here about their accuracy to the MCAT. I still need a lot of work though in biochem and genetics. I'm not a bio major so I knew the bio was going to be more difficult than the rest but at least I know what I need to work on now and not so discouraged by the difficulty of TBR.

 

[Temperature101]

Did 3 passages of TPR today for molecular biology chapter. Much more realistic expectations from these passages and I've heard good things on here about their accuracy to the MCAT. I still need a lot of work though in biochem and genetics. I'm not a bio major so I knew the bio was going to be more difficult than the rest but at least I know what I need to work on now and not so discouraged by the difficulty of TBR.

How did you do?

 

[Hemorrage]

Yeah, I know it's low, but I don't understand how I can score 70-80% on all the other subjects and bomb the bio unless what I reviewed is inadequate and/or TBR bio is just ridiculously hard. I'm going to do 3 bio passages from TPR tomorrow and report back. I've heard that is much more accurate to the difficulty of the actual MCAT. If you do a quick search on here, most people say that TBR bio is way harder and detailed than it needs to be. We shall see.

Don't worry too much. You aren't a bio major or a related major (i.e biochem) so you just need to acclimate yourself. I would be lying if i said taking honors biochemistry, honors o-chem and so forth isn't helping me on these passages. For example my first bio 1/3 i didn't even have to really read the passage because i knew about the amino acid sequence of collagen etc. Just do more content review and rest assured that your scores in the other sections are good. Like i said earlier i find TBR Physics/Gen Chem to be hard (scoring 60-70%).

Did 3 passages of TPR today for molecular biology chapter. Much more realistic expectations from these passages and I've heard good things on here about their accuracy to the MCAT. I still need a lot of work though in biochem and genetics. I'm not a bio major so I knew the bio was going to be more difficult than the rest but at least I know what I need to work on now and not so discouraged by the difficulty of TBR.

Think about it this way, if you can do well on TBR you will most likely kill the real mcat. At least thats what everyone says.

 

[HotHamH2O]

How did you do?

50-60% :-/ like I said, I do need some work on molecular bio. I'm hoping that once I fix these problems that the rest of bio will be a bit easier. I feel confident about the later sections that focus on systems. I'm an EMT with 8 yrs of clinical experience in an ER so I'm exposed to a lot more of that. We will see.

 

[HotHamH2O]

Don't worry too much. You aren't a bio major or a related major (i.e biochem) so you just need to acclimate yourself. I would be lying if i said taking honors biochemistry, honors o-chem and so forth isn't helping me on these passages. For example my first bio 1/3 i didn't even have to really read the passage because i knew about the amino acid sequence of collagen etc. Just do more content review and rest assured that your scores in the other sections are good. Like i said earlier i find TBR Physics/Gen Chem to be hard (scoring 60-70%).



Think about it this way, if you can do well on TBR you will most likely kill the real mcat. At least thats what everyone says.

Thanks for the encouragement. I offer you the same on the PS. I'm only doing well on those because I just finished physics. Once you remember the formulas you'll be golden.

 

[JLeBling]

I like that TBR passages are harder than the AAMC stuff.

Ideally, I would have all my practice material at a higher difficulty level than the MCAT. This way when the real test comes along, it's comparatively easier. In my opinion, the TBR passages, however hair-pullingly frustrating they may be, are a pretty good reflection of the type of critical thinking passages that I have done in the AAMCs, except that they are way more difficult and dense. Like the AAMCs, the information needed to answer correctly is hidden in the passage and requires critical reasoning to uncover, not just memorization of content.

I will admit that I have broken many pieces of furniture in my house out of frustration after completing a set of said passages... But hopefully all this suffering will pay off, right? who knows

 

[Doctorphilic]

I like that TBR passages are harder than the AAMC stuff.

Ideally, I would have all my practice material at a higher difficulty level than the MCAT. This way when the real test comes along, it's comparatively easier. In my opinion, the TBR passages, however hair-pullingly frustrating they may be, are a pretty good reflection of the type of critical thinking passages that I have done in the AAMCs, except that they are way more difficult and dense. Like the AAMCs, the information needed to answer correctly is hidden in the passage and requires critical reasoning to uncover, not just memorization of content.

I will admit that I have broken many pieces of furniture in my house out of frustration after completing a set of said passages... But hopefully all this suffering will pay off, right? who knows

As someone who went through the both TBR, and EK, here are my suggestions: If you already have a strong foundation of bio (i.e. info is current) then delve into TBR bio but NEVER EVER DO PASSAGES without first familiarizing yourself with the chapter content. I say this because BR passages are set-up in a unique way such that much of the conceptual framework needed to do well on the passages are laid out in the content section of the book. So, specific examples, diagrams and concepts that will appear in the passages are already addressed in the chapter content section. So, if you just do the passages without reviewing the chapter (this is just me), I feel like I am in a foreign land without really understanding the culture and the language. So, make sure you cover the chapter and get used to the BR way of setting up info.

Also, if you are rusty about bio, do not touch BR bio. Instead go through EK (more concise and easy to read) and get yourself into the game of reading bio. Once you go through that (takes about 2-3 days to cover EK bio) then you can immediately jump to BR bio and in no time, you will be thinking like those nerdy MCATers. Yes, there are some really extraneous TBR chapters (especially BIO ii or molecular cell bio section). But to me, those weird stuff also showed up on one recent exam that I wrote and even if I did not remember much, I did not freak out either. So, keep your heads up and approach BR bio with optimism!

 

[jeghaber]

I mostly used TPR and EK for my content review, mainly TPRH Science Workbook for passages, and then TBR passages for only the chapters on which I felt I needed more practice. If you've taken courses in college, I think TPR + EK covers pretty much all the content. Reading/doing the passages in TBR did give me an extra confidence boost for chapters I was less familiar with, but I wouldn't say doing WELL in TBR was absolutely necessary to do well in the real deal, hahah.

 

[Pose]

Lately I've been reading both EK and TBR. My initial impression of TBR being too detailed/dense was based on their metabolism stuff. But the last few chapters I've read have actually been less dense than EK. Pretty much everything in TBR Part I is pretty good.

With that said, I still only score ~60% on the damn passages.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

Lately I've been reading both EK and TBR. My initial impression of TBR being too detailed/dense was based on their metabolism stuff. But the last few chapters I've read have actually been less dense than EK. Pretty much everything in TBR Part I is pretty good.

With that said, I still only score ~60% on the damn passages.

60% on TBR is decent. Their passages are harder than AAMC passages and many of their questions require lots of time to think about before picking the correct answer.

 

[leric90]

This is what I'm doing for bio

1. read through EK - took notes
2. Watch VIdeos - combination of crashcourse/khan/***********
3. work on TPRH science workbook questions
4. Review specific material/content that is necessary from mcat-review.org

This is pretty comprehensive, and also I like to talk with people on skype about it


good luck!

 

[kmp0410]

I read them, but the really long chapters I tend to skim more. Also the chapters where I feel like I know the material pretty well I tend to skim.

I will also take my first 1/3 of passages open note so that I can actively think about everything.

 

[Fifty 3rds]

I just did the first 1/3 of the passages that correlates to EK ch. 2 and I've continued my alarming trend of not being able to crack the 70% mark.

This time it was 67.7% on 6 passages, took me 52 minutes as well. I really need to get that time down and comprehension up.

Hopefully it pays off at the end.

 

[brood910]

This is what I'm doing for bio

1. read through EK - took notes
2. Watch VIdeos - combination of crashcourse/khan/***********
3. work on TPRH science workbook questions
4. Review specific material/content that is necessary from mcat-review.org

This is pretty comprehensive, and also I like to talk with people on skype about it


good luck!

That's exactly what I am doing.
But instead of watching vids, I supplement EK with Kaplan when EK doesnt fully explain things.

 

[Pose]

I should really start watching videos. I used Khan Academy in college, but now I just find it difficult to sit through 15 minute videos, especially when one topic has like four parts.

I've been contemplating buying a month of Chad's stuff.