How to Study Biochemistry

Biochemistry is a challenging subject that involves many complex molecular relationships and reactions. Successful students must have a strong understanding of the concepts and solid memorization techniques to succeed in this course. Try the following study strategies and tips to help you learn how to study Biochemistry.

Study Tip #1 - Start studying early.

Biochemistry is a high-volume course that moves fast and builds on concepts. Most students procrastinate and never catch up. In addition, many pathways and reactions require memorization and take considerable time to learn and apply the knowledge.

Study Tip #2 - Look at the big picture.

Part of studying biochemistry means you will have to memorize multi-step metabolic pathways. The most efficient way to study this way is to start with the big steps and understand the overall purpose of the reaction.

First, write only the substrates and products in order of the large pathway until they are memorized. Then add the enzymes. Then, slowly add co-factors and by-products to your sketch. Check out Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry for an easy-to-understand approach and large full-color illustrations.

Study Tip #3 - Know the terminology and nomenclature.

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. 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. The goal is to recognize names and automatically correlate them with a specific function.

Study Tip #4 - Buy a dry erase board.

Use this to write out the biochemical pathways and reactions many times, which will help reinforce them in your memory. It tends to be much more efficient when recalling them versus staring and reciting from your textbook.

Study Tip #5 - Know the purpose of a reaction.

Consider the Bohr Effect, an increase in [H+] (decrease in pH), CO2, temperature, and 2,3-BPG all occur in active skeletal muscle. They also encourage hemoglobin to release oxygen to the surrounding tissues. This makes sense if you think that working muscle is organic tissue and needs oxygen to complete the electron transport chain in the mitochondria. Incorporating the reasons and goals behind major metabolic pathways will allow you to predict their outcomes in other situations in biochemistry.

Study Tip #6 - Stare at the graphs and plots.

These questions are nice 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 Tip #7 - Seek to understand first, and then memorize.

Biochemistry can be overwhelming, frustrating, and just plain hard. There is no easy way to memorize every amino acid or metabolic reaction, but if you take the time to get the concept down first, the memorizing is not as difficult as in the beginning. Stay focused, break it down into small steps, and practice.