Reflecting back on the course.

Reflecting back on the course, what are three major themes you would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course – how are they connected to more than one topic, and how do they connect with what you knew before this course? What knowledge have you gained with regards to these three themes you have identified?


The three major themes that I would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course are genetics, metabolism, and connections. 

1. In this course, genetics played a big role as far as learning about nucleic acid structure goes. It also helped in understanding replication, transcription, and translation on a new level. Things learned pertaining to genetics were specific enzymes jobs and what exactly they did to bonds and what they produced leading to their names. 
2. The second theme applies to glycolysis, the krebs cycle and the electron transport chain. I've gone over these cycles and chains in microbiology I didn't really understand why each step was happening and why enzymes had such weird names. After this class though, A better understanding of the names was retained making it clearer and easier to remember later on. Kinase for example is an enzyme that catalyzes phosphorylation. 
3. Finally, connections are made throughout the course and incorporating past knowledge from other courses and even general knowledge that finally made sense. It's obvious now why we were asked to relate genetics, molecular biology, biology and chemistry in our first blog. One is constantly connecting those subjects to biochemistry! This course definitely helped connect the dots in so many things.