MCAT
The MCAT covers material through the second semester of biochemistry (Chem 352) but even courses like Physical Chemistry can assist with material on the MCAT (for example, this sequence covers thermodynamics, kinetics, spectroscopy, and basic physics concepts). Analytical chemistry extensively covers electrochemistry and pH and equilibrium. 40% of all students accepted to medical school from the College over the last decade took three years of chemistry.
A biochemistry curriculum facilitates mastery of many of the learning outcomes expected for success on the MCAT, especially those foundational concepts underneath the “Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems” and “Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems”. Many of the concepts in these two areas are learned, emphasized or reviewed in chemistry and biochemistry courses.
Chemistry 351: This is a survey course of biomolecules and enzyme regulation, mechanism and kinetics. It covers properties of living systems, organizational structure of cells and biomolecules; properties of water (reviewing pH and buffer systems); thermodynamics and high energy molecules; amino acids and peptides; primary, secondary and quaternary structure of proteins; separation, sequencing and synthesis of peptides; carbohydrate structure and roles in the cell; glycoproteins; lipid structures and roles in the cell; membranes and membrane transport; nucleic acid structure; enzymatic processes of transcription, translation, and replication; enzyme kinetics and specificity; mechanisms of enzyme catalysis; allosteric regulation.
Chemistry 352: This is a mechanistic class on metabolic pathways. It covers thermodynamics and regulation of pathways; glycolysis; Kreb’s cycle; pentose phosphate pathway; glycogen metabolism; gluconeogenesis; electron transfer and respiration; photosynthesis; beta oxidation of fats; ketone bodies; hormonal regulation; fatty acid synthesis; cholesterol; amino acid pathways; urea cycle; nucleotide metabolism; reactions of vitamins and cofactors.
- (From a student in medical school) I had a lecture last week that lasted four hours. I am attaching a pdf of the slides. It was a LOT of information. And we are supposed to know pretty much all of it! (I think maybe six weeks of our CHEM352 in one sitting). I am glad I took biochem with you.
- (From a student in medical school) I owe you big time because you taught me biochemistry so well! It's one of my strongest subjects here...thanks to your class.
- 351 and 352 prepared me for the MCAT and helped me reach my goal score.
Chemistry 356: This class discusses the molecular basis of antibiotic resistance, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, Alzheimer’s and cancer. The class uses the primary literature and students critically read, evaluate, and present scientific work.
- Student comment in course evaluations: I honestly thought the class was fantastic! Also, I managed to score a perfect score in Biology on my MCAT. I think a large part of that was a result of this course and I would absolutely recommend this course to pre-meds. Many of the MCAT questions are directly taken from the topics we discuss here.
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Foundational Concept #1: Biomolecules have unique properties that determine how they contribute to the structure and function of cells, and how they participate in the processes necessary to maintain life.
Category 1A: Structure and function of proteins and their constituent amino acids**Most of this is covered in Chem 351Category 1B: Transmission of genetic information from the gene to the protein**About half of these topics are covered in Chem 351
Category 1C: Transmission of heritable information from generation to generation and the processes that increase genetic diversity**These topics are covered in Biology courses
Category 1D: Principles of bioenergetics and fuel molecule metabolism** All of these topics covered in great detail in Chem 352
Foundational Concept #2: Highly-organized assemblies of molecules, cells, and organs interact to carry out the functions of living organisms.
Category 2A: Assemblies of molecules, cells, and groups of cells within multicellular organisms**a few of these topics are covered in Chem 351 and Chem 352.Category 2B: The structure, growth, physiology and genetics of prokaryotes and viruses**These are primarily covered in Biology courses
Category 2C: Processes of cell division, differentiation, and specialization**These are covered in Biology courses; a few of these topics are covered in Chem 356
Foundational Concept #3: Complex systems of tissues and organs sense the internal and external environments of multicellular organisms, and through integrated functioning, maintain a stable internal environment within an ever-changing external environment.
Category 3A: Structure and functions of the nervous and endocrine systems and ways in which these systems coordinate the organ systems**some of these topics are covered in Chem 352, Chem 351, and Chem 356Category 3B: Structure and integrative functions of the main organ systems**these are covered primarily in Biology courses
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Section
Foundational Concept #4: Complex living organisms transport materials, sense their environment, process signals, and respond to changes using processes that can be understood in terms of physical principles.
Category 4A: Translational motion, forces, work, energy and equilibrium in living systems** These are primarily covered in physics but are reinforced in many chemistry courses.Category 4B: Importance of fluids for the circulation of blood, gas movement, and gas exchange**gas topics are covered in general chemistry and physical chemistry. Some of the fluid topics are emphasized in physical chemistry.
Category 4C: Electrochemistry and electrical circuits and their elements**Circuits are covered in physics and electrochemistry is covered in general chemistry and analytical chemistry
Category 4D: How light and sound interact with matter**sound, optics and light topics are covered in Physics courses; spectroscopy is covered in chemistry courses, especially the organic sequence.
Category 4E: Atoms, nuclear decay, electronic structure and atomic chemical behavior**These are all general chemistry topics but are emphasized and reinforced throughout the chemistry curriculum.
Foundational Concept #5: The principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions form the basis for a broader understanding of the molecular dynamics of living systems.
Category 5A: Unique nature of water and its solutions**These are general chemistry topics but are emphasized in several upper level chemistry courses such as Chem 220 and Chem 351
Category 5B: Nature of molecules and intermolecular interactions**These are topics in general chemistry and organic chemistry
Category 5C: Separation and purification methods**These are topics in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry
Category 5D: Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically relevant molecules**Half of these topics are covered in the organic sequence and half are covered in Chem 351
Category 5E: Principles of Chemical thermodynamics and kinetics**These are topics covered in Chem 351, Chem 352, General Chemistry sequence and Physical Chemistry sequence