Tiangco

Today was our first real Biochemistry class, and it felt like the actual beginning of the subject for me. We were introduced to biomolecules, chemical bonds, metabolism, ATP, and the different levels of organization in the human body. At first, I expected Biochemistry to be mostly about memorizing pathways and chemical structures, but I started to realize that it is really about understanding how the processes happening inside our cells ultimately affect the whole body.

I found the relationship between catabolism and anabolism especially interesting and learned how they are connected through energy metabolism. It made me think about how many biochemical processes are constantly happening even when we are not consciously aware of them.

I expect the next classes to become more challenging as we deal with more detailed molecules and pathways. At the same time, I look forward to understanding the subject beyond memorizing facts and seeing how it connects to medicine.

Our class focused on communication skills, which was a different experience from our usual science-heavy discussions. Instead of focusing purely on concepts and information, we had to think about how we communicate with other people, especially in a healthcare setting.

The session made me realize that becoming a good physician is not only about having enough medical knowledge. It is also about knowing how to listen, understand another person’s perspective, and communicate information clearly. I particularly appreciated the emphasis on active listening because it seems simple but can be difficult to practice.

We also practiced interviewing patients to develop our interpersonal skills and learn how to communicate with patients properly.

Today was an asynchronous learning session focused on our Labster orientation. Since I completed the activity independently, I had to manage my time and make sure that I understood how the platform and activities worked.

I initially thought the orientation would be straightforward, but it made me realize that virtual laboratory activities require a different kind of learning. Instead of physically handling equipment and performing procedures, I had to interact with a simulated environment and pay attention to the instructions and concepts behind each activity.

I think Labster will be useful as we progress because it gives us an opportunity to visualize laboratory concepts and procedures. I am interested to see how these simulations will complement our lectures and actual laboratory activities.

We continued with Biochemistry by discussing amino acids and peptides—the building blocks of proteins—and their different properties and classifications.

Amino acids initially seemed like structures that I would simply have to memorize, but I started to understand how their chemical properties influence protein structure and function. Peptide bonds, zwitterions, pKa, and isoelectric point were initially overwhelming, but they became clearer once I connected them to how amino acids actually behave in the body.

At this point, I am beginning to see how Biochemistry connects to disease processes and clinical medicine rather than being just another subject that requires memorization.

We learned how proteins fold into functional forms and how their three-dimensional structure is essential to their function. Protein folding stood out to me because it showed that even a small structural change can have significant consequences for the body.

We also discussed chaperones and protein misfolding, including their connections to prion diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. Collagen was another topic that helped me see how protein structure relates to a specific function in the body.

This chapter made Biochemistry feel much more clinically relevant. Instead of seeing proteins as molecules to memorize, I started seeing them as structures whose proper formation and function are necessary for normal physiology.

Our next topic focused on myoglobin and hemoglobin and their roles in oxygen transport and storage. We discussed how oxygen binds to them and how hemoglobin shifts between the T and R states. The Bohr effect and 2,3-BPG showed me how precisely the body regulates oxygen delivery according to tissue needs.

The chapter became even more meaningful through clinical conditions such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and methemoglobinemia. We also discussed HbA1c and how biochemical measurements help the clinical laboratory assess a patient’s condition.