As mentioned in the previous blog, MCAT is not just about memorization. It’s testing your ability to apply the knowledge to unfamiliar situations. In order to do so, you must have a solid foundation of concepts of each subject. To help you with this, here are some mnemonics for biology/biochemistry that might come in handy for your preparation.
-Nucleic acids/amino acids
CUT the PYramid = Cytosine, Uracil, Thymines are pyrimidines
Pure As Gold = Adenine and Guanine are purines
Stop codons: UAA, UGA UAG = U Are Annoying, U Go Away, U Are Gone
Polar/hydrophilic amino acids: Santa’s Team Crafts New Quilts Quilt Yearly = Serine, Threonine, Cysteine, Asparagine, Glutamine, Tyrosine
Nonpolar amino acids: Granma Always Visits London In May For Will’s Party = Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Proline
Electrically charged amino acids: Dragons Eat Knights Riding Horses = Aspartate, Glutamate, Lysine, Arginine, Histidine
-Body systems
LAB RAT: Left Atrium = Bicuspid, Right Atrium = Tricuspid
FLAT PGEM: anterior pituitary hormone = FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH, Prolactin, Growth hormone, Endorphin, Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
Path of sperm: SEVEn UP = Seminiferous tubule, Epididymis, Vas deferens, Ejaculatory duct, Urethra, Penis
-Enzymes
Glycolysis: Hungry Peter Pan And The Growling Pink Panther Eat Pies = Hexokinase, Phosphohexose isomerase, PFK-1, Aldolase, Triose phosphate isomerase, GAPDH, Phosphoglycerate kinase, Phosphoglycerate mutase, Enolase, Pyruvate kinase
Kreb’s cycle: Cool Aunt In Kansas Sell Special Fudge Monthly = Citrate synthase, Aconitase, Isocitrate dehydrogenase, α-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, Succinyl-CoA synthetase, Succinate dehydrogenase, Fumarase, Malate dehydrogenase
There are many more mnemonics available online. And of course, you can create your own!! This is even better because you will definitely remember that. Stay tune for the mnemonics for Physics & Chemistry!!
Jane
