In this episode of MCAT Basics, we’ll cover Electrochemistry. We start with the role of salt bridges in electrochemical cells and cover the intricacies of cell notation. We’ll also discuss how ions maintain charge balance, the importance of reduction and oxidation potentials, and how these elements come together in galvanic and electrolytic cells. We’ll also take a closer look at concentration cells and the critical Nernst equation, which helps us understand cell potentials under non-standard conditions.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the Conversation:

[00:00] Introduction to MCAT Basics

[01:09} Introduction to Electrochemistry

[03:20] Concentration cell: same metal, different ion concentrations

[13:05] Visualizing galvanic cells using royal analogy

[22:19] Reduction potential, oxidation potential, cell potential explained

[30:47] Electrochemical cells, Gibbs free energy, and Nernst equation

[41:16] Electroplating and electric current to coat metals

[45:40] Electrochemistry in Nanobiology: measuring oxidation of molecules

This MCAT Basics podcast covers biological membranes. First, the podcast introduces a few topics regarding membranes: what they are, how they are formed, their presence in the cell, and cell-to-cell junctions. Second, it addresses transport through the membrane, including simple diffusion, active vs. passive transport, and transport membrane proteins. Next, the discussion moves to membrane proteins, including receptors, transporters, and the differences between integral, peripheral, and lipid-anchored proteins. Finally, the podcast covers membrane dynamics, such as endocytosis and the transmembrane system, and discusses membrane potential.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the Conversation:

[00:00] Intro into MCAT Basics

[01:08] Introducing Biological Membranes

[01:53] What is a membrane and what is its structure

[15:33] Cell to cell junctions and the involvement of plasma membranes

[17:16] Transport through a membrane

[26:49] Membrane proteins

[31:05] Membrane dynamics and potential

In this episode, we’ll talk about  ATP or adenosine triphosphate. We will begin with a detailed examination of ATP's structure and composition as a nucleotide, followed by an explanation of the metabolic pathways involved in its production—both aerobic and anaerobic. We will also cover the pivotal process of ATP hydrolysis, emphasizing its energy release and crucial role in various cellular processes, including the sodium-potassium pump and protein phosphorylation.

Additionally, we will address the limitations of ATP supplementation and the broader implications of ATP in biological transport and biosynthesis processes. This episode promises to provide a clear and thorough understanding of ATP's essential functions, ensuring you are well-prepared for your MCAT studies.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump Into the Conversation:

[00:00] Intro into Adenosine Triphosphate, otherwise known as ATP

[2:09] The structure of ATP 

[06:48] Where and how ATP is produced

[24:04] Thermodynamics of ATP

[35:16] The functions of ATP

[35:31] Sodium-potassium pump or the sodium-potassium ATPase

[39:45] Protein kinases and protein phosphorylation

[42:48] ATP binding cassette transporter protein or ABC transporter proteins

In this episode, we explore the topic of intelligence, which is primarily featured in the psychology and sociology section of the MCAT.

We cover several key theories, including entity vs. incremental theory, general intelligence theory, two-factor theory, multiple intelligences theory, Triarchic theory, CHC theory, and biological theories. Additionally, we examine the nature vs. nurture debate on hereditary intelligence factors and discuss how intelligence is measured.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump Into the Conversation:

[00:00] Intro to Intelligence

[02:47] Entity vs. Incremental Theory

[06:36] G Factor Theory

[10:26] Multiple Intelligences Theory

[12:18] Triarchic Theory

[14:39] CHC Theory

[18:58] Theories of Intelligence

[21:01] Hereditary factors of intelligence 

[28:33] How intelligence is measured

[32:06] Why intelligence tests can be problematic

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

In this episode, we focus on the physiology of sound and hearing.

We begin by exploring sound-related concepts, including sound waves, pitch, ultrasound, and the decibel system. Next, we delve into the anatomy and physiology of the ear, providing a clear understanding of how we perceive sound. This material will appear in two of the four MCAT sections: the Bio/Biochem and Physics/Chemistry sections.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

[00:00] Introduction

[01:50] Physics of sound waves

[06:07] Wavelength and frequency equation

[08:08] Equation for the speed of sound

[11:01] Overall takeaway for the MCAT

[11:15] Ultrasound imaging

[14:23] The decibel system

[18:05] Anatomy and physiology of the ear

This podcast focuses on the eye. It begins with a brief overview of the eye's anatomy and physiology. The discussion then shifts to rods, cones, and the phototransduction pathway. The final section addresses perception.

Key topics include visual field processing, differences between binocular and monocular cues, and feature detection (covering both Magno and Parvo pathways). 

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

[02:10] Anatomy & physiology of the eye

[16:02] Phototransduction pathway

[26:59] Perception 

[28:13] Visual field processing

[31:34] Binocular versus monocular queues

[35:02] Visual feature detection - Gestalt principles

[38:18] Parallel Processing

[39:12] Parvo versus Magno pathways

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

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

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.