How to Study Biochemistry
Biochemistry is a notorious course for demanding
a high-volume of information in a short amount of time. However,
there are studying methods to assist students in learning efficiently
and effectively. I have studied and interviewed groups of medical
and science students that have mastered their course work. It is
true that there are specific and detailed guidelines that these
students adhere to and credit for their academic success. The successful
student must excel in visualizing relationships, memorizing facts,
and reciting complex metabolic reactions of the human body. With
some time and applying these strategies and tips from past honor
students of Biochemistry, you will greatly improve your academic
performance.
Study Skill #1 - Do NOT procrastinate. The most
obvious, and yet least followed advice by students. Biochemistry
is a high-volume course that progresses and builds its concepts
on the fundamentals. Moreover, many pathways and reactions require
memorization and must be acquired over time. The last thing you
want to do is cram for this course.
Study Skill #2 - Know the terminology and nomenclature,
it will make things much easier down the road. An enzyme or protein
will often have its function built into its name. Take Protein Kinase
A for example. As a member of the Kinases, it will almost always
add a phosphate group to its substrate. Or, take Alcohol Dehydrogenase,
structures that are Dehydrogenases always oxidize a substrate. In
this case, it oxidizes alcohols into aldehydes and ketones. Once
you get this down, you will begin to recognize names and automatically
correlate them with a specific function.
Study Skill #3 - Start with the big picture. There
is no doubt that you will have to memorize multi-step metabolic
pathways. The best way to do this is to start with the easy steps
and understand the overall flow of the reaction. First, write only
the substrates and products in order. Do this repeatedly, until
it is memorized. Then add the enzymes. Then continue to add co-factors
and by-products. If necessary, label each as an exer- or endergonic
reaction. Use the nomenclature to help you remember what is going
on in each step. For example, Phosphofructokinase-1 - adds a phosphate
group (phospho-kinase) to the molecule fructose (-fructo-) at the
first position (-1). By breaking down the pathways and focusing
on the terminology it will greatly speed up your ability to memorize
them.
Study Skill #4 - Buy a dry erase board. Use this
to memorize the pathways and any other reactions you have to know.
There are no short-cuts, but writing things out reinforces them
in your memory. It tends to be much more efficient than staring
and reciting from your textbook.
Study Skill #5 - Know the purpose of a reaction.
Take the Bohr Effect for example. An increase in [H+] (decrease
in pH), CO2, temperature, and 2,3-BPG all occur in active skeletal
muscle. They also all encourage O2 release from hemoglobin. This
makes sense if you think that working muscle is metabolic tissue
and needs oxygen to survive. Incorporating the larger concept will
also allow you to predict the flow of reactions in other situations
throughout the body.
Study Skill #6 - Stare at the graphs and plots.
These questions are virtually freebies on exams because all the
information you need to solve them is included. Know what the x-
and y-intercept, the slope, and the area under the graph represent.
Know what makes the graphed line move to the right or left. You
will absolutely be asked about the Michaelis-Menten graph and the
Hemoglobin dissociation curve - these are staples of biochemistry.
Study Skill #7 - Seek to understand first, and
then memorize. Like many other courses, biochemistry can be overwhelming
at first. There is no easy way to memorize every amino acid or metabolic
reaction. But students always claim that if they take the time to
first get the concept down, the memorizing is not as difficult as
it once seemed. Stay focused, break it down into small steps, and
practice.
Jordan Castle is a medical student in Detroit, Michigan. His work
spans many different aspects of the learning process and aims to
help students excel in their individual courses. Detailed study
strategies and practice exams can be found on his website at http://medstudysites.com
Courses include: Physiology, Genetics, Histology, Neuroanatomy,
and Histology.
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