<p>Hi, I was accepted to UCLA as a biochem major. I was wondering how is the major like.</p>
<p>I've taken a biochemistry class before and it wasn't as much chemistry as I liked. We did some g-chem like Henderson-Husselbach, titration curves, equilibriums, etc. We barely used any hardcore mechanisms we learned in O-chem (Basically just nucleophilic attk + electron pushing). Then the rest of the class is pure memorization which was very painful to learn but beneficial (amino acids, major processes). The class turned out to be my hardest class during my whole time in college but I loved it at the end. Although, I wish we would have correlated the reactions in biochem to the reactions we learned in O-chem more.</p>
<p>How is the curriculum like at UCLA?
Are the professors good?<br>
Is the subject more into chemistry or bio?<br>
Do you go into detailed mechanisms or just memorize enzymatic steps of the major biological processes like glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, etc.?<br>
How much O-chem do you actually use?</p>
<p>I really like the hardcore chemistry stuff. The mechanism, stereochemistry, regio, how does this structure goes to another structure. How does the change in structure affect its function.</p>
<p>I HATE learning like this</p>
<p>glucose --- hexokinase --> glucose-6-phosphate (pure memorization)</p>
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<p>you’re going to loooove chem 153A :)</p>
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<p>lol I been through all the main cycles. I have memorized all the enzymes, intermediates, coenzymes, delta G’s , etc. Will I be learning any real chemistry or just a lot of memorization of cycles and what not? </p>
<p>I remember in biochem, heres how we learned it
Here guys step 4 of glycolysis:
fructose-1,6-bisphosphate —adolase—> G3P + dihydroxyacetone
-now memorize it. It just cuts the bond in half and you get G3P + dihydroxyacetone
(thats not CHEMISTRY…)</p>
<p>I asked my O-chem teacher to explain what happens and he actually goes through the mechanisms. It turned out to just be reverse aldol condensation (an enolate rxn).<br>
I prefer to learn it like that. </p>
<p>How do you guys learn it at UCLA?</p>
<p>Exactly how you described it… memorization.</p>
<p>Memorization is an inescapable part of science, especially in biochem. You can learn it however way you want, and you’re free to open the book or go to lecture to see the mechanism but in the end you’re expected to just memorize it and get the easy point or they’ll ask what happens when some enzyme is inhibited but that’s not too much of a stretch once memorized. If you get stuck, use the basics you learned in o-chem to reason your way out during exams</p>
<p>Argh, I might as well major in regular chemistry or o-chem then -__- . I wish o-chem teachers taught biochem classes. It would be a lot more fun.</p>
<p>But it’s not always critical to the core concepts. In your example, knowing that it was a reverse aldol condensation doesn’t really add to it.</p>
<p>Yea I took a biochem class already lol. We concentrated more regulation, kinetic, enzyme inhibition, if one chemical builds up how does it affect the other processes, i have this chemical what other processes can I use it for. The breakdown and synthesis of carbs, fats, protein, and nucleic acids. The pure memorization of the processes didn’t even help much. It was more on the big picture. </p>
<p>But I like studying the chemicals involved a lot more. Like how does this get to dis not just oh just use dehydrogenase on it …</p>
<p>Do you guys enjoy the major? btw.</p>