MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach)

Redox reactions or reduction and oxidation are reactions in which electrons are simultaneously transferred from one chemical species to another. This episode begins with exploring this concept, including an in-depth look at oxidizing and reducing agents and the factors determining a compound's effectiveness as an oxidizing agent.  It also covers the oxidation states of molecules and functional groups, common redox reagents in organic chemistry, and the role of redox in biological systems. The episode also addresses numerical concepts from general chemistry related to redox, such as determining oxidation numbers and understanding electrochemical cells. Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.   [00:00] Introduction [01:09] What is the conceptual definition of redox [06:22] What is an oxidizing agent, and what is a reducing agent? [08:50] What makes a molecule better than another at being an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent? [13:58] Which oxidation reduction reagents should you know and what do they [21:44] Redox in biological systems [35:01] How to determine the oxidation state [41:16] The application of oxidation-reduction in electrochemical cells  

This episode of MCAT Basics covers the world of circuits. We will explore electrical circuits and their fundamental principles. We’ll start with dissecting the essential parameters that form the backbone of circuits: voltage, current, resistance, and power. These are the building blocks upon which all circuit dynamics are based. Next, we'll explore a variety of circuit elements, from resistors to batteries, capacitors, and switches. Each of these components plays a vital role in shaping the behavior of circuits and understanding their functionality. Finally, we'll delve into Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Law, two fundamental principles that govern circuit behavior. By grasping these laws, you'll gain essential insights into how circuits operate and how to analyze their dynamics effectively. Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT and use promo code PODCAST to receive a five percent discount on your first session. Jump into the conversation: [00:00] MCAT Tutorig from MedSchoolCoach [00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics [01:07] Topics covered in this episode [02:14] Circuit Variables - voltage, current resistance, power [22:59] Circuit Elements - resistors, sources of voltage, capacitors, and switches [44:28] Ohm's Law [45:24] Kirchhoff's Law  

This episode of MCAT Basics covers several separation and purification techniques you may see on the MCAT. We’ll cover these techniques in three distinct categories: small molecules, proteins, and cells.  Within the small molecule category, we’ll discuss extraction, crystallization and recrystallization, and chromatography (TLC and HPLC). For proteins, we cover SDS-page, precipitation, soelectric focusing, and chromatography variations. Lastly, we’ll explain, within the world of cells, centrifugation, flow cytometry, and microfluidics.    Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.    Jump into the conversation: [00:00] MCAT Tutorig from MedSchoolCoach [00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics [01:07] Topics covered in this episode [02:24] Techniques for small molecules - extraction, crystallization and recrystallization, and chromatography (TLC and HPLC) [28:24] Techniques for proteins - SDS-page, precipitation, isoelectric focusing, and chromatography variations [54:47] Techniques for cells - centrifugation, flow cytometry, and microfluidics.   

The immune system is split up into two main categories - the adaptive immune system and the innate immune system.  This episode will cover the intricacies of the innate immune system beginning with an overview of its constituent cells. We will then explore three pivotal elements of the system: anatomical barriers, the general inflammatory response, and the complement system. This will show up in the bio/biochem section of the MCAT. For additional reading on this topic, you can refer to the NIH’s Innate Immune System paper. Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.   Jump into the conversation: [00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach [00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics [01:06] Topics covered in this episode [02:09] The goal of the innate immune system [04:57] The cells that make up the innate immune system [11:47] Anatomical barriers to the innate immune system [19:53] General inflammatory response of the innate immune system [42:49] Complement system [45:33] MCAT Advice of the day - take as much time as you need to study for the MCAT  

To continue our discussion on the immune system, in this episode, we will cover the second type of immune system – the adaptive immune system.    We start with covering some vocabulary that you’ll need to know to understand the immune system, then we move into the cells that make up the adaptive immune system. Then we break down the two branches of the adaptive immune system -  humoral immunity including the discussion of B cells and cell-mediated immunity highlighting T cells.   Don’t miss our previous episode on the other type of immune system, the innate immune system.    Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.   Jump into the conversation: [00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach [00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics [01:06] Topics covered in this episode [02:01] Review on the difference between innate vs. adaptive immue system [02:32] General Vocabulary terms for the adaptive immune system [07:05] The cells that make up the adaptive immune system [13:09] The humoral immune system and B cells [26:07] Cell mediated immunity and T Cells [34:38] Antigen activation