tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post1934524231091143191..comments2024-03-19T00:24:23.577-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: Better Biochemistry: Teaching ATP Hydrolysis for the MCATLarry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-44454468542885686772013-09-13T18:19:56.082-04:002013-09-13T18:19:56.082-04:00I remember back in the day in the 2nd year honours...I remember back in the day in the 2nd year honours biochem class the first words out of the instructor's mouth were, "I know that most of you are pre-med, but I can only give out 25% A's and 75% A's + B's". Like a physician needs to have any clue about how many equivalents of ATP are produced. Just teach to the subject and ignore the MCAT. If students want to well on the MCAT they can take an MCAT prep course, but hijacking the actual discipline to cater to the constituency is a fool's game.whimplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15979048635836472956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-50965795262457321032013-09-13T11:51:16.648-04:002013-09-13T11:51:16.648-04:00In theory all of the biochemistry content is also ...In theory all of the biochemistry content is also supposed to be from one semester of biochemistry. You can cover all the material expected in one semester but it is superficial and focussed on memorization rather guiding the students to learn concepts and apply previous knowledge to new situations.<br /><br />Concept based biochemistry is the way to go. It is far more interesting as well.<br /><br />With regards to the amino acids, do you expect students to learn the three letter and one letter abbreviations? I have but make it a small part of the class. The idea being that is part of the language of biochemistry and who wants to be constantly looking them up while reading a paper with 25 mutations. Critical thought and understanding/applying concepts are the major foci of the courses. A biochemistry course should be empowering for students as they apply the physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry they know to understand the structure of biological molecules and how that relates to function.KStRNAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09799135663027820445noreply@blogger.com