Molecular Biology of the Cell by Bruce Alberts

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>Just curious…if I were going to do premed in college, when would you say you learn Bruce Alberts renowned text, Molecular biology of the cell? </p>

<p>Do you think you learn it after the first year of general bio (using a text such as Cambell Reece)</p>

<p>Finally, say if I got a on the AP Bio exam, could I skip a General bio course with labs and jump straight into a course that only consists of Molecular Biology and Genetics (full year with lab) and not deal with evolution/ecology in college?</p>

<p>Thanks…</p>

2

<p>Probably never, unless you decide to be a bio major or take molecular/cell bio.</p>

<p>The survey molecular/cell bio course at my school is a 400-level course so consequently only bio majors who are juniors or seniors take it. We don’t even use the Alberts text, although the professor admitted that it is the predominant text used for molecular/cell biology.</p>

3

<p>Same thing here. That’s a graduate level type textbook. In fact, some med schools do use it but strictly as a secondary resource because it contains some very complex mechanism steps that aren’t useful for med students.</p>

4

<p>Come to Johns Hopkins’s BME program. We do Molecules & Cells in the first semester of sophmore year.</p>

5

<p>any other info?</p>

6

<p>im a biochem major and we do molec cell in the first semester of sophomore year also…cant tell you much else as i am a freshman</p>

7

<p>It varies from school to school.</p>

<p>Generally premed and biology majors here will use Alberts during their sophomore year in Biology 118.</p>

<p>In fact, our students don’t deal with evolution/diversity/ecology unless they’re bio majors, regardless of whether they’ve taken the AP.</p>

<p>If you’re a premed, I’d recommend you take:</p>

<p>Important for the MCAT:
Principles of Biology (the thing an AP will get you out of)
Molecular Biology/Genetics (uses Alberts, at my school)
Animal Physiology (preferably not invertebrate)</p>

<p>Helpful for the MCAT:
Developmental Biology (usually the sequel to Genetics, also uses Alberts)</p>

<p>Important for med school admissions:
Biochemistry</p>

<p>Helpful when for your future years in med school:
Vertebrate Anatomy</p>