<p>@Mansu: In the past only juniors and seniors made it to camp from my school. But this year I was astonished to see a freshman making it to camp! I wonder if it is a rarity or the arms race is on for this too!</p>
<p>@ Mansu: No problem 
Weāre all in the same boat and we can help each other out!
I think I read on the 2012 USABO thread that some of the questions on previous semis and USABO exams are recycled and added to new exams every year. Hopefully theyāll change and publicly release the exams to all.</p>
<p>Haha, Iām a freshman too! But I doubt Iāll make it 
Iām not smart, talented, hardworking enoughā¦ But itās probably going to become more and more competitive :P</p>
<p>Oh, also @Mansu, I donāt know if itās possible, but it would sure be expensive (because of transfusions), while it would be relatively cheaper to convert blood to O-type blood, which can be received by anyone.</p>
<p>Hey guysā¦ Does anybody think itās possible to get a lab internship if youāre a rising freshman? I wanted some hands-on experience which could help me for the USABOā¦
I contacted an assistant professor from my local college :D</p>
<p>@ NightShadeQueen</p>
<p>Do you still have those virtual flashcards that you referenced earlier? Also do you happen to know why taxonomy was so over-represented on both the open and semifinal exam this year? I missed finals by less than 5 points because of that, grr.</p>
<p>@MathGuy777</p>
<p>A rising 8th grader I know is working in the same lab as me and Iām only a rising sophomore. Itās quite possible if you find the right people, preferably those who have high school outreach programs as part of their research.</p>
<p>@emblem101 </p>
<p>Do you have any tips for studying taxonomy?</p>
<p>@ flyingwatermelon</p>
<p>Well, the reasons that I didnāt make finals is because I didnāt study taxonomy. This year I guess that I will make sure to know most if not all of the organisms referenced in the IBO syllabus and I will study the corresponding Campbellās chapters very diligently</p>
<p>Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry
David L. Nelson (Author), Michael M. Cox (Author) </p>
<p>Molecular Biology of the Cell [Hardcover]
Bruce Alberts (Author)ā¦</p>
<p>I highly recommend these two amazing books to anybody who wants to learn in depth about Biochem, Molecular and Cell Biology.</p>
<p>Is it worthwhile to possess āMolecular Biology of the Genesā and āVoet Biochemistryā? One of my mentor has current versions of those two textbooks and another one called āModern Genetic Analysisā. Are they worthwhile to read or is Campbell Biology is the central focus?</p>
<p>I have another question (sorry to bother you moreā¦). What exactly is the difference between chromatin, chromatid, and chromosome? I have been following the concept that chromosome is refers to two sister chromatids joined together through kinetochore but is this true? What about chromatin?</p>
<p>Chromatin refers to both DNA, RNA, and the proteins (histones) that make up the genetic material. Heterochromatin is condensed, while euchromatin is not. </p>
<p>Prior to chromosome replication, you have 46 single strand chromosomes in your somatic cells. Once they replicate, you still have 46 chromosomes, yet they are double-stranded and contain 2 chromatids connected at the centromeres. Once these sister chromatids separate during anaphase, you now have two new chromosomes. One chromosome consisting of two chromatids went to two chromosomes consisting of one chromatid. </p>
<p>Confusing, I know!</p>
<p>^
Thank you very much, astults13!!!</p>
<p>So chromosome is actually a single strandā¦is it okay to refer single chromosome as sister chromatid?</p>
<p>You could think of it like that, but I donāt know if it is necessarily proper.</p>
<p>Cellular DNA is mostly double-standed. It can be melted locally due to transcription or replication.</p>
<p>A chromosome is a double stranded DNA molecule wrapped together with proteins.</p>
<p>@flyingwatermelon: Thanks! 
I got accepted an internship at a nearby college and Iām really happy to work with the professors there! Although I donāt think that there was a high-school outreach program for this colleges, the professor I contacted was really nice and we discussed what I would be doing. Hehe, Iām learning from a post-doc, though!</p>
<p>I guess I should second the answer to my question. Internship is gonna be AWESOME</p>
<p>I know this probably varies from year to year, but on average, how many questions do you need to get right to move on to the semis? As a rising freshman, I want to see if I can make it past the open examā¦</p>
<p>For studying for the Olympiad, should I just study Campbell 8th edition and then go to other sources if I make to semis? Also is it too late to begin?</p>
<p>@NSQ</p>
<p>You use anki? I love anki, but as far as I was aware, only a relatively small group of language learners even knows about the concept of an SRS.</p>
<p>How do you organize your bio deck? Mine consists mostly of the glossary terms (both recognition and recall) in C&R arranged by chapter. I also have a few other things like the amino acids and some human anatomy stuff in there. I find that when I finish reading a chapter in the textbook, a lot of the concepts will remain a little fuzzy until I hammer them into my brain with cold hard repetition.</p>
<p>Anyway, thatās really cool. I hardly know anyone who uses anki.</p>
<p>I used Anki mostly for the tables, so organized by table.</p>
<p>And unfortunately my cards died in my hard drive crash, so I donāt have them anymore.</p>
<p>Mansu:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>We might release a couple of semiās soon, I donāt know when. </p>
<p>And concentrate on Campbell. Donāt bother with Voet until you can draw glycolysis and the citric acid cycle from memory :D.</p>
<p>emblem101:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No clue, sorry, I donāt see the open or the semi.</p>
<p>@Mathguy:</p>
<p>Yeah, thatās what generally happens. Itās amazing how awesome most profs are about allowing random high schoolers into their labs.</p>
<p>@EveningSwan</p>
<p>Probably somewhere on the lines of 23-27 questions, depending on how hard the Open was.</p>
<p>@bobjohnson </p>
<p>Itās never too late.</p>
<p>Is there a penalty for guessing wrong? </p>
<p>@EveningSun: Last year the cutoff score was 24. The highest score was a 42. Of the 500 who qualify for semis, only 20 make it to camp. </p>
<p>@NSQ: Unlike Chemistry Olympiads, there are no honors or high honors rankings in Biology Olympiads. Any reason why CEE cannot give that out. It will be a great motivation to prepare for the semis.</p>
<p>@everyone, Iām not sure if this can be a grounds for aspiring USABO students to ask questions, but here are a few of my questions that I would be grateful to receive feedback/answers to.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>An abiotic factor is listed as a part of the environment that is <em>not</em> alive. so does this include regular organic molecules (for example glucose)? usually abiotic factors listed are factors such as light or moisture, but I would like to get this clarified.</p></li>
<li><p>Is the enzyme that cleaves lactose into glucose and galactose the enzyme lactase? or beta-galactosidase? these seem to be used interchangable sometimes, and Iām having trouble figuring out the difference between them.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>also, @NSQ, after roaming around the 2012 USABO thread for a while, i find references to the USABO study guide frequently. Where can I find this? Is this the IBO curriculum with the web links? because I donāt find that very helpfulā¦</p>
<p>another thing @NSQ, a couple of posts ago, you replied to someone that taxonomy was fairly important to know. However, isnāt this only supposed to make up 5% of the test with systematics? Or does taxonomy range farther out of systematics into evolution, giving it a larger share of the test than it seems? 5% does not seem like a lotā¦(although it can probably win you a seat at Finals if your on the border of the cutoff line :P)</p>