Contents

• Some Notes on Groundwork
• In & Outs of Biochemistry
• Milestones in the History of Western Medicine Part II
• Science at its Best
• Some Thoughts About Becoming a Physician

Some Notes on Groundwork

To be made available soon.

What is it?

Essentially, biochemistry is the integration of chemistry into the study of biological organisms; hence the terms “bio” and “chemistry”.  This field developed molecular methods to solve biological problems through the application of chemical techniques.  Because biochemistry does not concentrate on one particular macromolecule, its range of interest is rarely stifling and the application to research is frequently expanding.

Where can we get more information?

The biochemistry office is located in the Medical Sciences Building on the 5th floor room 5207.  A direct source of information can be obtained from the Biochemistry Undergraduate Secretary, Dr. Larry Moran.  A biochemistry web site also exists at the following location:  http://bioinfo.med.utoronto.ca/

Requirements

Biochemistry is a specialist program leading to a B.Sc. which takes four years for completion.  Entry level courses are listed in the Arts and Science calendar and the Biochemistry Undergraduate Handbook (obtainable from the biochemistry office).  Acceptance into the biochemistry program is competitive and is dependent on the academic performance in first and second year.  Each year the program usually admits approximately 40 students.  However, the program size usually decreases by fourth year due to students entering into professional faculties, transferring into a less challenging program or re-locating to another institution.

The Faculty

The biochemistry faculty consists of a variety of professors from a variety of backgrounds.  Their research encompasses topics ranging from protein structures and function to the roles of carbohydrates in disease, from membranes and transport to gene regulation and expression, from signal transduction and synapses to pH control, from tumour biology to biophysical methods.

The Triad Programs

The Immunology program and the Molecular Genetics & Molecular Biology program are in close association with the Biochemistry program.  Students in these three programs endure a common bond in which the two most challenging courses within the medical sciences are requirements for graduation from the triad programs.  These courses are BCH321Y and MGB311Y.

B. U. S. S.

The Biochemistry Undergraduate Student Society is an active component of the student life.  This union is involved in organizing academic events like the Graduate Information Night and the Career Opportunities Symposium.  Social events include paintball, dinners, bowling, skating… etc.  Most of these events are jointly held with IMMSA (immunology) and MGBSU (genetics).  Administrative projects include the selling of past exams and the annual T-shirt design and sale.  New this year is the development of the biochemistry web page which is still currently under construction.
 

Milestones in the History of Western Medicine

To be made available soon.

To be made available soon.

 I believe that most students who study science want to enrol in a professional school, and I imagine a large number of them are interested in studying medicine.  Why do so many people want to become doctors?  Is it the fame, the wealth, or the social status?  In my opinion, both the person’s attitude towards medicine and his or her sense of responsibility are important in determining whether he or she is suitable to become a physician.

When I was a co-op student in high school, I interviewed a general surgeon.  One of the questions that I asked him was “Why did you choose to become a doctor?”  He answered me this way, “I feel really bad when people get sick.  I want to do something about it.”  What a nice and simple answer.  It already encompasses the essence of a physician’s job: To help and to serve.  Doctors are respected because they are willing to care for other people, but not because of the money they can make.  If a person wants to become a physician on the basis of wealth, fame or due to parental influence, then he or she probably is not going to enjoy his or her job since facing sick people all day long in an office requires patience.

Doctors can heal, but they can also kill.  Physicians have a great responsibility, because the cost of a mistake can be a life.  The following is an incident that happened to my aunt not long ago which reminds me of the significance of a physician’s responsibility.  My aunt got a tumor in her lung and her family physician referred her case to a specialist.  The specialist sent her to do a lung biopsy and some other tests.  It was discovered that her case was rare and the specialist requested her to undergo several other diagnostic procedures.  She waited a couple of weeks for her results, and during this period of time received only pills to relieve her pain.  Several days before she got her results back, she became really sick and went to see her family physician again.  This time X-rays showed that her tumor was enlarged by two times.  When the specialist was informed about this, he said to my aunt’s husband, “Nothing much can be done now, but she can receive radiotherapy or chemotherapy as a treatment so that she doesn’t feel as bad.”  Till now I still wonder why the results came back so late.  If the specialist had listed her case as an urgent one, or if he checked out why it took so long to get the results, my aunt’s life might be saved.  Patients put their lives into their physician’s hands and trust them entirely; clearly doctors must feel a sense of responsibility for their patients.

 Maybe we should ask ourselves two questions before deciding whether we are suited to become doctors:  “ Why do I want to become a physician?” and “Am I willing to take on such a large responsibility?”

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