The MCAT Tutor The Basics of Amino Acids

And they said supplements couldn't help you beat the MCAT I have met two groups of people who are VERY excited about amino acids. The first group is bodybuilders. Bodybuilders are OBSESSED with amino acids, because amino acids make up protein, and protein make up muscles and muscles are what bodybuilders want. Since you are reading this blog looking for an MCAT tutor, I feel it is relatively unlikely that you are a bodybuilder, though you never know. The second group is medical school applicants. This is because there are 20 amino acids, all with different structures. The first time any prospective medical student comes across a table of all 20 amino acids, the first question is always the same: â€Å"Do I have to memorize these?† The short answer is no. The long answer is, while knowing all of the structures by heart MIGHT be helpful, there is a more basic set of facts that you should become comfortable with first, and which will be much higher yield than memorizing all 20 structures. Remember, the best MCAT tips give you the all the information you need to answer questions and nothing more. Basics first: an amino acid is the fundamental unit of all proteins. It is made up of a central carbon, bound to an amino group (amino acid), a carboxylic acid group (amino acid), a hydrogen, and a variable R group: The R groups are where all the fun happens, and by arranging the amino acids in different orders, we get all the amazing properties of proteins which we see in human biology. Now for the fun stuff: Amino acids have POSITIVE charges at a low pH and NEGATIVE charges at a HIGH pH. This is because both the amino group and the carboxyl group are protonated at a low pH, and both are deprotonated at a high pH. At an intermediate pH, the amino group is protonated, and the carboxyl group is deprotonated, making the whole amino acid neutral. All amino acids are chiral EXCEPT glycine. This is because the R group on glycine is just a hydrogen. Glycine has the smallest R group and is thus the smallest amino acid. The MCAT loves to test this, so any time you get asked about something in which you might need a small amino acid, think glycine. Phenylalanine, tyrosine, and trypotophan all have large ring structures in their R groups. Big means bulky! Again, MCAT loves to ask about size. Alanine, Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine have hydrocarbon R-groups, and are thus non-polar. This means that they hate water, and will tend to be embedded within membranes or towards the interior of globular proteins. Histidine, Lysine, and Arginine have BASIC R-groups. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid are acidic. Duh. Proline is the only amino acid who’s R group is covalently linked to the amino group of the amino acid. Because of this, it will cause â€Å"kinks† in a chain of amino acids. Cysteine forms disulfide bonds with other cysteine residues. These disulfide bonds are often what holds together multiple polypeptides in quaternary protein structure. This list is by no means exhaustive. However, it is a GREAT place to start and will get you through 95% of what you need to do great on amino acid questions on the MCAT. ;

How to Homeschool If You Work Outside the Home

If you and your spouse both work full- or part-time outside the home, you may think homeschooling is out of the question. Although having both parents working outside the home does make homeschooling trickier, with efficient planning and creative scheduling, it can be done. Here are some practical tips for successfully homeschooling while working outside the home. Alternate Shifts With Your Spouse Perhaps the most difficult aspect of homeschooling when both parents work is figuring out the logistics. This can be especially tricky  when young children are involved. One of the easiest ways to ensure that there is always a parent at home with the children is to alternate work shifts with your spouse. Alternating shifts also helps with school. One parent can work with the student on a few subjects while he or she is home, leaving the remaining subjects for  the other parent. Maybe Dad is the math and science guy while Mom excels at history and English. Splitting up the schoolwork allows each parent to contribute and to work to his or her strengths. Enlist the Help of Relatives or Hire Reliable Childcare If you  are a single parent of young children, or you and your spouse are unable or unwilling to alternate shifts (because that can  put a strain  on both the marriage and family), consider your childcare options. You may want to enlist the help of relatives or consider hiring reliable childcare. Parents of teens may decide that their kids can stay home alone during the parents’ working hours. Maturity level and security concerns should  be taken into serious consideration, but it is often a viable option for a mature, self-motivated teen. Extended family may be able to provide childcare and oversee schoolwork that your child can do with minimal help and supervision. You might also consider hiring an older homeschooled teen or college student to provide childcare if there are only a few overlapping hours in the working parents’ schedules. You may even consider exchanging child care for rent if you have extra space available. Use Curriculum That Your Students Can Do Independently If you and your spouse are both working  full-time, you’ll probably want to consider homeschool curriculum that your children on their own, such as textbooks, computer-based curriculum, or online classes. You might also consider mixing independent work that your children can do during your work shifts with more activity-based lessons you can do in the evenings or on weekends. Consider a Co-Op or Homeschool Classes In addition to the curriculum that your kids can complete on their own, you might also consider homeschool classes and co-ops. Many co-ops do require that the parents of the kids enrolled to take an active role, but others do not. In addition to regular co-ops, many areas offer group classes for homeschoolers. Most classes meet two or three days per week. Students enroll in and pay for the classes that meet their needs. Either of these options can meet the scheduling needs of working parents and provide in-person teachers for core classes and/or desired electives. Create a Flexible Homeschool Schedule Whatever you decide to do as far as curriculum and classes go, take advantage of the flexibility that homeschooling offers. For example,  homeschooling doesnt have to take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can do school in the mornings before going to work, in the evenings after work, and on the weekends. Use historical fiction, literature, and engaging biographies as your family’s bedtime stories. Science experiments can make exciting family activities in the evenings or on the weekend. Weekends are also the perfect time for a family field trip. Get Creative Working homeschool families encourage thinking creatively about activities with educational value. If your kids are on sports teams or take a class such as gymnastics, karate, or archery, count that as their P.E. time. Use dinner prep and household chores to teach them home economics skills. If they teach themselves a skill such as sewing, playing an instrument, or drawing during their free time, give them credit for the time invested. Be aware  of the educational opportunities in the everyday aspects of your lives. Split up or Hire Help for Household Chores If both parents are working outside the home, it is vital  that everyone either pitch in to help or that you seek outside help for maintaining your home. Mom (or Dad) can’t be expected to do it all. Invest time to teach your children the life skills necessary to help with the laundry, housekeeping, and meals. (Remember, it’s home ec class, too!) If theres still too much for everyone, consider what you may be able to hire out. Perhaps just having someone clean your bathrooms once a week would lighten the load or maybe you need to hire someone to maintain the lawn. Homeschooling while working outside the home can be challenging, but with planning, flexibility, and teamwork, it can be done, and the rewards will be worth the effort.

Is Abortion Good Or Bad - 984 Words

Is it wrong to end the life of an innocent person? Most people would agree that it is. Yet, in the case of abortion many still see it morally justified. Abortion is one of the most debated and difficult to understand moral issues in ethics today. Ethics, is the study of the nature of morality; it is what makes use decide between good and bad (Boss, 2014). Therefore, is abortion good or bad? Unfortunately there are no universal ethics that can lead us to a straightforward answer. As ethical subjectivism would suggest, ethics is a matter of personal opinion. With that said, how could we justify or dispute abortion? In order to get a better understanding of what’s behind the life or death decision, let’s judge abortion against the four fundamental values of life that are universally recognized: life, knowledge, sociability, and procreation. Natural law states, all laws should be in agreement with the natural order and preservation of life. So should abortion be illegal? When Thomas Aquinas first proposed the Natural law theory he was trying to combine Aristotle’s reason perspective and Christianity’s faith perspective (Finnis, 2015). If we look at abortion through a faith perspective, it is without a doubt something that is morally wrong and should be illegal. Prior to Kant’s Copernican Revolution many would have strongly agreed, since philosophy and ethics tried to build on a God’s eye view (Lang, 1986). On the other hand, if we look at abortion through a reason perspectiveShow MoreRelatedIs Abortion A Good Thing Or A Bad Thing?878 Words   |  4 Pages Is abortion a good thing or a bad thing? Is abortion good? Is it bad? Abortion is seen different for a lot of people, because everyone has different opinions. In 1973, U.S. Supreme Court held Roe V. Wade said â€Å" protected women’s rights.† The Supreme Court later found out that Roe V. Wade was wrong. It does count that abortion is a women’s right ,but it’s also the child’s right to stay alive. In 2013, 22 states passed abortion but 70 other countries restricted abortion. More and more people areRead MoreAbortion, Good or Bad for Society?3757 Words   |  16 PagesAbortion. Abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated. This could happen naturally or on purpose. Natural abortions are caused for a variety of reasons, some in which the fetus does not develop normally, or if the mother has an injury or disorder that would prevent the birth of the child. Most people refer to the naturally occurring abortions as miscarriages. Other abortions are purposely committed to prevent the birth of a c hild. These abortions are done because the pregnancy is not wanted, or theRead More Whether Abortion is Good or Bad for Our Society Essay3719 Words   |  15 PagesWhether Abortion is Good or Bad for Our Society Abortion. Abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated. This could happen naturally or on purpose. Natural abortions are caused for a variety of reasons, some in which the fetus does not develop normally, or if the mother has an injury or disorder that would prevent the birth of the child. Most people refer to the naturally occurring abortions as miscarriages. Other abortions are purposely committed to prevent the birth of a child. These abortionsRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Abortion1380 Words   |  6 PagesAbortion the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures preformed in the United States each year. More than 40% of all women will end a pregnancy by abortion at some time in their reproductive lives. Abortion, it is simply the one of the most debated issue in our society today. â€Å"Is abortion bad?† â€Å"Is the fetus a baby?† â€Å"Why is it bad to kill a fetus if it’s not living?† The simpleRead MoreIs Abortion A Bad Thing?1357 Words   |  6 Pagestwo types of abortion: one is spontaneous abortion and the other is induced abortion. Although these two are all abortion, the meaning between them is highly different. Spontaneous abortion is the abortion because of embryo or fetus itself or the health condition of the mother. However, unlike spontaneous abortion, induced abortion is the abortion because of the human factor, and it has been a huge ethical issue in today’s society. While there are lots of debates about whether abortion is doable, inRead MoreWhen Is Abortion Morally Appropriate?1124 Words   |  4 Pagesever, is Abortion Morally Appropriate? ONE: Introduction Abortion is one of the most contentious, controversial subjects in society today. There are strong arguments on both sides. The pro-life side of the issue is against abortion and many within that group are opposed to abortion even in the event that the woman in question has been raped and the so-called pro-choice position on the issue insists it is up to the woman do either keep the baby of opt for an abortion. When is an abortion morallyRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Topic986 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion has always been a controversial topic in the United States for decades. Abortion is like taking the life of someone without their permission so it is technically â€Å"murder†. There is no such thing as an unwanted child, millions of families in the United States are always willing to adopt. On the other hand, there are circumstances where a woman can barely care and sustain herself so chances are that she will not be able to take care of her child. Or when a rape occurs, having an abortionRead More Abortion Essays691 Words   |  3 Pagesthey have an abortion it’s their business and no one else’s. A woman should be able to get an abortion without having to be discriminated by people. I don’t think abortion is pretty but neither is heart surgery. I do think abortion is bad but I think it’s important that we can all have our own choices. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I have looked at it from both sides and actually I agree with both sides. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing but I personally think that it’s a good thing. I’m notRead MoreThe Supreme Court Decision Roe V. Wade Essay1284 Words   |  6 PagesWade that legalized abortion in the United States was decided in 1973. Over 40 years later, abortion is still one of the most controversial issues in our society. What is it about a woman’s right to choose that is so polarizing for so many Americans? And what keeps this social issue at the forefront decade after decade? Religion. Religious beliefs and practices influence views on abortion. Individuals with higher levels of commitment to religious groups tend to oppose abortion at higher rates thanRead MoreReading Analysis : Where Have All The Criminals Gone?1663 Words   |  7 Pagesof legalized abortion; which is its relation to the decreasing crime. Abortion which in general term is called as ‘miscarriage’ was not legalized years back. It was taken as a sin back then. Many of us still would make comments that abortion is a crime and equals to killing a human itself. Our norms tell us that a life to be born should never be put to an end as everyone is god’s creation and deserves to live a life. Due to this thought many women have given birth to babies as abortion is strictly

Henry Clay Essay Example For Students

Henry Clay Essay Henry Clay FrickIn this paper I am going to talk about how Henry Clay Frick was an important man to our history and some things that he contributed. Not only was he a successful industrialist, but an art patron and a philanthropist. He was one of the most important people that helped put Pittsburgh on the map. It all started in a small town in Westmoreland county called West Overton. He was born in 1849 into a wealthy family not his parents but his grandfather had some money. His grandfather was Abraham Overholt, who was a wealthy rye whiskey distiller. As he was growing up his grandfather gave him a job as a bookkeeper. And that was the job that made him want to become a wealthy man in his future. It didnt take long either Henry with an entrepreneurial spirit became the largest producer of coke from coal. By the time he was thirty he was already a millionaire and this caught the eye of another important Pittsburgh industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie looked at Frick, as a man that could really help him out since coke was a key ingredient in the making of steel. This led to Carnegie bringing Frick into his company Carnegie Brothers and Company, and this assured him of having a constant supply of coke. After joining up with Carnegie, Frick took and reorganized the worlds largest coke and steel company. But Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie were both aggressive business competitors. The end was near for their partnership because of the twos aggressive nature. One of the major problems between Frick and Carnegie began with the 1892 labor strike at the Homestead Works, which was part of Carnegies Steel Company. It started because Carnegie wanted to eliminate the unions in his mills, but Frick supported actions that setback the labor movement for decades. The Homestead Works strike didnt look good for Carnegie because of the death and violence, which had happened, and he tried to avoid any connections with him. The two kept disputing each other which led to Frick resigning form the company in 1899(Warren, 1996). After the violence at Homestead, Alexander Berkmann, attempted to assassinate Henry Clay Frick in his second floor office in Downtown Pittsburgh. While recovering from his attack at his home his son Clayton died shortly after birth. Frick also didnt have much public support after the Homestead violence. However after these to instances he gained public sympathy (Warren, 1996). After his near death experience and fall out with Carnegie Steel Company he continued his business interests in Pittsburgh, New York, and other cities. He formed the St. Clair Steel Company in 1900, with the largest coke works in the world in Clairton. He then played a major role in the formation of United States Steel Corporation, after Carnegie sold his interests in the Carnegie Steel Company in 1901. He then began investing in a large real estate in Downtown Pittsburgh that included the Frick Building, William Penn Hotel, Union Arcade, and the Frick Annex. He also played a major role in the construction of two major building in Downtown Pittsburgh: the Carnegie Building, the first steel skyscraper, and the original Union Trust Company Building in Pittsburghs Fourth Avenue Financial District (Schreiner, 1995). He also started an art collection shortly after he became a millionaire, which he was interested in dating back to his youth. By the beginning of the twentieth century, he had a very significant art collection. He considered building an art museum, to house his works of art, in Frick Park. But he finally decided to move his large collection of artwork to New York City with the family in 1905, ironically to avoid the soot of Pittsburghs industries. His art collection serves as the core of the Frick collection, which is housed, in his former New York City mansion. When he died in December of 1919, Henry Clay Frick bequeathed this residence and the works of art for the formation of a public gallery for the purpose of encouraging and developing the study of fine arts (Serrin 1992). .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 , .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .postImageUrl , .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 , .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29:hover , .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29:visited , .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29:active { border:0!important; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29:active , .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29 .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5656b67a5fafca58b61e884d67116a29:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Red wine varietals EssayEven though the Frick family moved to New York in 1905, Henry continued his business interests and philanthropy in Pittsburgh. In 1905, $65,000 was still needed to finish the new Allegheny Observatory building, and was needed for the astronomical research to escape the air pollution of the inner city. Henry Clay Frick promised to pay half of the sum if astronomer John. Brashear could find the other half of the amount. In 1909, Henry Clay Frick organized a commission to fund supplemental educational opportunities for public school teachers with John Brashear, and Frick donated $250, 000 to the commission. The commission became permanent in 1916, and it became known as the Henry Clay Frick Educational Commission. In addition to many grants to individual teachers, for special training, the Commission constructed the Henry Clay Frick Training School for Teachers, located just four blocks from the present day site of the Frick Fine Arts Building. In the 1990s, the Henry Clay Frick Educational Commission became the Henry Clay Frick Educational Fund, one of the specially endowed funds of Pittsburghs Buhl Foundation (Schreiner 1995). To end this paper I find it very inspirational that someone that was born less then five minutes from were I lived my whole life did so much to better the people, society, and culture around him. It was just amazing how good he was at everything he did and didnt fail at all. It just makes me think maybe someday a small town boy like me will think of something to better everything for everyone and become an icon like Henry Clay Frick