How Fasting Can Enhance Your MCAT Preparation A Strategic Guide
Fasting While Studying
The time has come once again where millions of Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan. Ramadan is a month-long where Muslims all around the world from sunrise to sunset. It is meant for self-reflection, patience, and the understanding of those in need. These are some attributes which are included also on the path to medicine. But first, we must get over many obstacles ahead and the biggest obstacle being the MCAT. Studying while fasting can be a great benefit, not only does it give one the ability to stay focused but it also provides fewer distractions. Here are a few tips that I have found from this past week on how to study while fasting. First, find a sleeping schedule that works for you. The days are long, and it can be exhausting to wake up early and fast the whole day while studying. Although many people don’t mind this, I personally have found that staying up until 5 am and sleeping until 12pm to be best suited for me. While staying up,I would have small balanced meals which help me stay focused throughout the night. Another tip is to try not to overeat. I know it can be tempting with family gatherings and different types of food. Do not fall for temptation! Overeating will cause you to feel extremely fatigue, which affects your studying and sleeping patterns. Eat less processed foods and sugar. I personally like to break my fast with dates, then eat lentil vegetable soup, and eat oatmeal before starting to fast gain. Throughout the night, I include small snacks and fruit smoothies. Other than eating well-balanced meals, be sure to stay hydrated, the days are long and you don’t want to feel dehydration the next day. Even though fasting all day can be tiring, be sure to keep your body in shape in order for your mind to stay focused. I have found that doing 30 minutes Pilates in the afternoon and going for a run after breaking my fast not only gives me the ability to stay focused throughout the day but helps me stay motivated. Ramadan has given me the patience to understand that with hard work and dedication we will hopefully do reach our goals. Happy Studying and Ramadan Mubarak!
Nucleic Acid: The Major Functions
The nucleic acids are crucial to large biological molecules of all that is living. The nucleic acids are divided into RNA and DNA. They are the key element of the living organisms. They can be found in most of the living cells. The nucleic acids are also known to be biopolymers while the monomers are called nucleotides.
Essential functions of nucleic acids are as follows –
- Stores and transfers genetic data
- Directing the fusion of new protein based on genetic information
- DNA functions as the storage for genetic data inside the cells
- Fusion of RNA inside the cell is regulated by DNA
- All the genetic data goes through DNA to the protein synthesizers inside cells
A Quick Insight into DNA Replication and Repair Process
w cells and offspring through. Precisely, all humans inherit similar characteristics from their parents through DNA replication process. Typically, the primary objective of this replication process is to get a matching copy of the original DNA.
If there is any problem or error in the process, it will lead to mutations. Even though the mutations are extremely disastrous to human cells, some mutations will only not bring any danger to the body. In fact, some of these mutations will play a significant role in diversifying cell offspring. Also, DNA replication process is vital for the growth of cells and reproduction system of the body.
In contrast to DNA replication process, DNA repair is a pool of processes to identify and correct the damage to the DNA molecules within an encoded genome. The human bodies are subjected to DNA damage from normal metabolic activities and environmental factors like UV light and radiation. Because of this danger, around one million individual molecules face abrasions per cell per day.
DNA repair process heavily relies on several factors including the age of the cell, the cell type, and the extracellular environment. If a human cell accumulates some DNA damages, it will face three possible situations –
- A state of dormancy, which is irreversible (termed as senescence)
- Cell suicide, commonly known as programmed cell death or apoptosis
- Unregulated cell division, which will lead to a cancerous tumor
The ability to repair DNA damage is essential for the integrity of its genome. Therefore, this ability is severely important to the normal functionality of the organism. To conclude, human life span is greatly influenced by DNA damage repair and protection system.
Nucleic Acids Structure
Nucleic acids structure is classified into four categories. They are explained below –
1. Primary Structure
The main structure of the nucleic acids contains the linear sequence of the nucleotides. These nucleotides are connected to one another by the phosphodiester linkage system. The three most important constituents of nucleotides are phosphate groups, the nitrogenous base, and 5-carbon sugar.
The nitrogenous base contains purines; adenine, guanine and pyrimidines; thymine, cytosine, uracil. The 5-carbon sugar contains deoxyribose (DNA) and ribose sugar (RNA).
The purine bases create the glycosidic link between their 9’ nitrogen and the 9’ – sugar molecule (OH group). Pyrimidine bases, on the other hand, create the glycosidic bond between the 1’ nitrogen and the 9’ – deoxyribose (OH group).
The purine as well as the pyrimidine bases the phosphate group creates a link with the sugar molecule. The nucleotides create the phosphodiester bond between the 5’ and 3’ carbon atoms, which forms the nucleic acids.
An example of complementary sequence AGCT is TCGA.
2. Secondary Structure
How Enzymes Are Controlled in the Human Body?
How are enzymes controlled?
Enzymes are known to be very powerful catalysts. To control the metabolism, the following treatments are to be followed by organism:
- Controlling the amounts of an enzyme made
- Organizing the location of the enzymes in each cell/ the whole organism
- Controlling the catalytic power of the enzyme molecules after they are made
Our genes are known to ca
How Enzymes Work Exploring Structure, Classification, and Function
1. Oxidoreductases: Oxidoreductases catalyze some reactions that are related to the reduction of oxidation. Most used names are catalase, oxidase, dehydrogenase, and oxidase.
2. Transferases: Transferases catalyze relocations of groups such as phosphate, acetyl, and methyl. Most common names include polymerase, acetyltransferase, protein kinase and methylase. The last three subclasses the primary roles in the regulation of the cellular process. The polymerase is essential when it comes to the synthesis of RNA and DNA.
3. Hydrolases: Hydrolases catalyze reactions directly related to hydrolysis. Here a molecule is parted in two or more molecules by the adding water.
4. Lyases: Lyases catalyze the cleavage of C-N, C –C, C –O bonds through other ways than oxidation and hydrolysis. Most used names include aldolase and decarboxylase.
5. Isomerases : Isomerases catalyze the atomic reshuffles inside the molecule itself. Most common examples include racemase and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI).
6. Ligases: Ligases catalyze the reaction that joins two molecules, examples – RNA ligase, peptide synthase, and DNA ligase and aminoacyl-tRNA synthases.
Protein Structure A Brief Analysis
Understanding the nature of protein Structure is important for using to make medicinal drugs. What’s more, having a clear knowledge of protein structure can help us in analyzing the different structures efficiently.