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Molecular Biology and Genetics? (1 Viewer)

princess_ariel

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I'm thinking of taking this specialist stream, but can't decide whether to choose this or advanced science. Any advice?
 

Templar

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You can take the adv stream, see how you go and tranfer into the specialist stream if you like it after first year.

Although for most of us MBLG1001 Molecular Biology and Genetics (Intro) left a pretty bad impression.
 

Templar

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You get forced to do bio, which is pretty crap with all their lecturers.

Then there's molecular bio, with crap bio lectures for genetics and masses of notes to be rort learnt...although I do have to say with the multiple choice a lot of us went OK by just blindly guessing everything.
 

tennille

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Do advanced just in case you don't like it. Like Templar mentioned, you can transfer over to it if you really enjoy it, but you need a distinction average in order to do so.
 

princess_ariel

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Thanks for the feedback! Actually I really enjoy bio, thats why I'm thinking of this course. But my school counsellor told me that there are not many career opportunities for graduates of this course. What do you say?

Also, if I need a distinction ave to transfer to the stream after a year of advanced sci, does this mean that mol bio and gen is more academically challenging than the adv sci course?

I'm also thinking of TSP since I got a UAI of 99.45. Do u think it's a good idea?
 

Templar

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It's not academically more challenging, it's just that molecular biology (and biochem and any bio related areas) requires a lot of rort learning. You need to be able to memorise large amounts of information.

The bio course material isn't too bad, just that the way it's taught isn't very enjoyable.

I don't know what you mean by thinking about TSP. Enter it, whether you do a project or use it is another matter.
 

tennille

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princess_ariel said:
Also, if I need a distinction ave to transfer to the stream after a year of advanced sci, does this mean that mol bio and gen is more academically challenging than the adv sci course?
You need a distinction average no matter what course you are transferring from. If you wanted to transfer to advanced science, you also need a distinction average.
 

SeDaTeD

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Start off with adv science due to the flexibility. You can choose your units the way you want it. you may not know if you still want to focus on MBLG, of if something else interests you more. Once you go through a year of uni you'd have a better idea of where you want to go.
 

tennille

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I liked the first two "modules", which were based on DNA and transcription. The third module was related more to genetics (the Human Genome project, natural selection, PCR, etc). I loved the pracs (isolating nucleic acid, electrophoresis, etc). Although I found the final exam difficult.
 

Templar

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The practical work is pathetically easy and very fun. Provided you don't mind the 5 hour pracs (you get breaks when the electrophoresis is running, some of us spent that on soccer).

The theory is difficult, a lot of rote learning required. There is in my opinion too much information that requires memorisation. DNA section was good, it's basic introductions and Dale makes the work manageable. RNA transcription is more difficult but Merlin's a great lecturer. For genetics, I don't know if it's the lecturer that is boring, or the course material is crap anyway, but nobody turned up at the end.

The best thing about MBLG? The ability to not turn up, attempting to cram all 6cp of it in one day, guessing at least half of the multiple choice questions and leaving the short answer out, and still able to get a decent mark.
 

nit

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Well, I'd personally stick to advanced science - from what I gather from others who have chosen the specialist MBLG stream, you get extra projects, extra seminars, the degree is naturally less flexible and most of the MBLG ppl so far, at least, haven't really enjoyed the first year MBLG course too much. If your heart lies with MBLG, by all means go for it, but decide carefully.
 

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