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.

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[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.

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[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.

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[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

Understanding the kidneys' role in the body’s balance is essential for the MCAT and beyond.

In this episode, host Sam Smith discusses renal physiology, covering everything from kidney anatomy to the nephron’s critical functions in filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion. You’ll explore the roles of the renal cortex and medulla, learn about the loop of Henle, and uncover the importance of ions, plasma volume, and pH regulation in kidney function. Plus, we’ll examine hormones like ADH and aldosterone and their impact on fluid balance, as well as essential measurements like glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for assessing kidney health.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

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(00:00) Intro to renal physiology

(02:43) Kidney anatomy overview

(08:38) Nephron structure and function

(09:50) Six key functions of the kidney

(12:03) Nephron Processes: Filtration

(17:32) Nephron Processes: Reabsorption and secretion

(22:51) The Loop of Henle

(26:05) Understanding osmolarity in the Loop of Henle

(26:55) Ion transport in the ascending limb

(32:04) The role of the collecting duct

(37:18) Hormonal regulation of the nephron

(46:50) Key measurements of renal function

(50:15) MCAT Advice of the Day

Cells and tissues form the building blocks of life, which are crucial for mastering key concepts in the MCAT’s biology and biochemistry sections.

In this episode, host Sam Smith breaks down the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, exploring animal, plant, and bacterial cell structures alongside unique cell types like erythrocytes. You’ll gain insights into the various tissue types—epithelial, muscle, connective, and nervous—along with their roles in the body. Plus, Sam highlights essential details on ribosome size, cell reproduction methods, and structural elements like vacuoles and cell walls. This episode equips you with strategies to distinguish cell and tissue types confidently, setting you up for success on exam day.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

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(00:00) Intro

(01:03) Cell types overview

(02:44) Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells

(09:53) Animal, plant, and Ffungi cells

(16:20) Bacteria and archaea characteristics

(19:09) Erythrocytes: Structure and function

(20:15) Tissue types intro

(23:35) Epithelial tissue types and functions

(33:17) Connective and nervous tissues

Thermodynamics is fundamental to mastering chemistry concepts and understanding the energy dynamics within biological systems crucial for the MCAT.

In this episode, host Sam Smith dives into the laws of thermodynamics, covering everything from the zeroth law to the third. You'll explore key concepts like enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs Free Energy and learn how they apply to reaction spontaneity and equilibrium. Sam also gives practical examples, including how the equilibrium constant and reaction quotient (Q vs. K) affect reactions, and covers types of heat transfer—conduction, convection, and radiation—essential for the Chem/Phys section.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT and use promo code PODCAST to receive a five percent discount on your first session.

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(00:00) Intro

(01:03) Introduction to thermodynamics

(03:58) The four laws of thermodynamics

(12:46) Thermodynamic variables: entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs Free Energy

(24:11) Phase changes in thermodynamics

(25:30) Gibbs Free Energy and spontaneity of reactions

(38:01) The three types of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation

DNA replication and the central dogma are fundamental concepts in molecular biology, and breaking down the different replication methods and the processes of transcription and translation is crucial for understanding how genetic information is expressed and passed on in cells.

In the first part of our episode, we'll break down DNA replication, exploring the concepts of conservative, semi-conservative, and dispersive replication, unraveling the mechanisms that drive this fundamental process.

Later, we'll focus on transcription and translation, delving into the nuances between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. We'll uncover the mechanisms by which genetic information is transcribed from DNA to RNA and then translated into proteins, all while considering the diverse cellular locations where these processes take place.

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:

[01:07] Episode Overview

[01:54] DNA replication explanation

[05:53] Three phases of replication - initiation, elongation, and termination

[25:12] Central Dogma description

[25:50] Transcription Process

[36:31] The differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic transcription

[37:58] Translation Process