(Lab Required) (Formerly 002.236) An introductory course dealing with kinds of molecules encountered in biochemistry, and the concept of metabolic energy as a product of catabolism and a requirement for biosynthesis. This course is also given in Microbiology as MBIO 2360. Not to be held with CHEM 2361, CHEM 2770 (002.277), MBIO 2360, MBIO 2361 (060.236), or MBIO 2770 (060.277). Prerequisites: CHEM 1310 or CHEM 1311 (002.131) (C+); and one of BIOL 1030, BIOL 1031, or the former 071.125 (C). NOTE: Students may hold this course for credit in the B.Sc. General Degree program, but may not use it to fulfill the minimum requirement of 12 credit hours in 2000 level Chemistry (pre-September 2008 regulations). Those students following the new General Degree regulations (effective 2008-09) are able to use this course as part of the 18 credit hours of advanced level Chemistry or Microbiology.
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4
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April 26, 2018
Fall 2018 - Prof: Dr. Mlinar
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2
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June 28, 2016
Fall 2015 - Prof: Diana Mlinar
CommentsNoneAdviceGet used to memorizing everything! Diana talks really fast, so maybe take notes with a laptop |
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2
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Dec. 27, 2016
Fall 2015 - Prof: Diana Mlinar
CommentsPeople don't shut up about how hard biochem is and I'd like to think it's not so bad. Just study and keep up and you'll do fine. The labs however are awful and the reports are stressful, but remember that the labs and the course work are a separate entity and don't let a bad mark on a lab report get you down!AdviceNone |
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2
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April 28, 2017
Winter 2017 - Prof: Peter pelka
CommentsHorrible. They switched to multiple choice with less time. Still Need to memorize every small detail.AdviceBlah. Run. Run fast Labs suck too The lab guy gives no rubric and basically have to be a mind reader |
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2
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Jan. 13, 2017
Fall 2016 - Prof: Sean McKenna
CommentsTo everyone reading this: MAKE SURE TO MEMORIZE ALL THE NOTES. Yes, you read that right "ALL THE NOTES." The course material is one big discussion of amino acids, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. Very interesting if you realize that there's so much more to it than what was previously taught to you. A lot of time is devoted to proteins, enzymes, and glucose metabolism.AdviceThey ask pretty specific parts of the notes that you'd think are unimportant and every slide is fair game for exams. So make sure to memorize all the structures, pathways, and processes that were discussed. Also, memorize the entire glucose metabolism starting from the phosphorylation of glucose at the start of glycolysis to the end of oxidative phosphorylation. When I say memorize that includes structures, names, and enzymes involved. Good luck! |
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2
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Nov. 15, 2016
Fall 2015 - Prof: Dr. Brian Mark
CommentsI'm rating this now that I finished biochem 2. Listen my poor, sweet, innocent sunflowers... This is the easier of the two biochems by far and it is a genuinely useful course. This stuff is all very helpful for the MCAT if that's where you're heading.AdviceMemorization can get you through this one. All the info you need is on the slides. Occasionally they're fond of testing very obscure details but that's not the majority of the content. |
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2
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July 5, 2016
Fall 2015 - Prof: Dr. Mlinar
CommentsLife is hard when your professors are out to get you and screw you over. Lots of memorizing but its possible with diligent effort. Diana talks as if she's memorized a monologue so you'll need to pretty much reteach yourself everything based on the slides. Labs were difficult but if you feel you were wrongly graded, Nichols isn't that scary if you just talk to him. He's quite willing to give back marks!AdviceThey only test based on slide information though, so basically turn those puppies into flash cards and memorize away! I found creating posters (like large, dollarama sized poster paper) of the mechanisms made it easy to study. From there just practice writing out the steps and comparing to your big poster. |
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1
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June 29, 2016
Fall 2014 - Prof: Dr. McKenna
CommentsWell taught course overall.AdviceThis course is easier and makes more sense if you've previously taken Organic Chemistry. Memorize all of the pathways as those are usually examined, but concepts from the course are also fair game. Practice with previous year's exams! |
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1
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Dec. 26, 2016
Fall 2016 - Prof: Sean Mckenna
CommentsKeep up with the notes and make sure you understand everything.AdviceMake sure u understand everything for the lab exam and final. |
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1
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Jan. 9, 2020
Fall 2019 - Prof: Sean McKenna
CommentsThey included old midterm and final exams for the past couple years this time, which was really helpful. Consequently, though, our midterm average was high (~80%) as some questions were reused. Final was rough. Labs reports are fairly straightforward, but you can lose marks for the most obscure things that they're looking for. Lab final was tough, with a final question that threw a ton of information and graphs and had us sorting through what to do to find the enzyme properties, but doable.AdviceMemorize your pathways/mechanisms and structures. Even better, understand why certain steps occur. Do as many practice exams as you can, and start memorizing the amino acids ASAP as it will be on both the midterm and final, and is free marks if you do. Don't leave studying to the last minute, and take it seriously when they say that they can test anything on the slides, even the examples. Ask your lab mates about the lab reports, I think it was Exp 4 where a lot of people in my lab lost marks. |
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1
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Dec. 6, 2020
Fall 2020 - Prof: Diana Mlinar
CommentsSo much memorizing. But if you stay on top of it and memorize all the structures for the exam, you'll be fine. The questions repeat from past years exams and are not too hard as long you have all the structures memorized. Some of the conceptual questions are hard though.AdviceMake sure you know someone else in the class! No answers are given for the practice final so you have to compare with other people. Also, the lab reports are much easier if you do them with someone else too. |
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1
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April 29, 2020
Fall 2019 - Prof: Diana Mlinar
CommentsThis course seems so overwhelming with the note package, but looking at the practice questions in the back they almost always ask the same conceptual things. Diana goes into so much detail but her lectures are always interesting and she is really kind and wants everyone to really understand. The labs are marked mean but they almost always are so don't fret too much, the lab final was a lot more fair than expected, expected for one super mean question.AdviceStudy off the old finals!! Every question on my midterm was on one of the old finals/midterms, and the old finals were mostly the same too. Don't give up before the final, it makes or breaks your mark!! |
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1
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Jan. 11, 2022
Fall 2020 - Prof: Diana Mlinar
CommentsOkay please read my review, i promise it's worth it. For Fall 2021, there wasnt a 2020 option for some reason People say this course is hard, I ended up with an A+, I was also one of the few that got higher than 95 on the midterm. This course is do-able. Its hard if you dont do your work. Want an A+? Review the lecture notes every day after class, memorise what is taught the DAY OF and ask questions thru email THE DAY OF so you can get misconceptions clear. A+ is manageable and realistic.AdviceNone |
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1
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Aug. 1, 2024
Summer None - Prof: Ellert
CommentsCourse is heavy, A lot of material to learn and memorize. Go to class, study hard since day 1 and you would be fine. I liked Ellert as a profesor his exams as very hard but he lets you know what you should memorize and not, thats why you should go to class. Do not leave all the material to the last day or you will die. keep up with the material. If you have any doubt just ask him.AdviceTake it in summer if you can just take this course and really focuse in it. Read the old midterms/ Finals there are very helpfull. |
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0
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Nov. 6, 2019
Fall 2018 - Prof: Sean McKenna
Commentspretty easy course, everything is written in the slides that you need to know. know your amino acids, titration questions, and glycolysis (mainly) and you'll be set. the hardest part of this course is the lab reports i got and A on the midterm and an A+ on the final and barely scraped together a 70 for the lab portion which makes up a good chunk of your gradeAdvicego through the pas questions to give you a general sense of the concepts they'll test and practice, this course is not hard if you take the time to work on it. labs reports and lab exam are just brutal not much you can do about it, i promise you everyone is in the same situation |
Comments
This class hurts my soul. The material is fascinating and Dr. Mlinar is an amazing professor, however there is no official midterm, and the final is pretty much all of your marks. Even though you only spend 1-2 lectures on it, focus on the stuff taught at the end as it will make up at least 30% of your mark. The labs are brutal, only because you have to follow their instructions exactly, and also they want you to know exactly what they want without them having to say it.Advice
Memorize as much as you can, doing well in this course requires at least 4 weeks of studying before the final. For lab reports try to talk to someone who has taken the class already as they can point out stuff that you need to include on your reports. Follow the lab booklet exactly to get full marks.