GLYCOLYSIS, KREB’S CYCLE AND GAMSAT BIOLOGY

GAMSAT Section III comprises of ‘Reasoning in Physical and Biological Sciences’ and is a standardised assay to test your aptitude. Out of the several topics used to develop questions for this section, the ‘Glycosis’ and the ‘Citric acid cycle’ constitute a major part.

Glycolysis and Citric acid cycle are two very important phenomena signifying the production of energy in our body. And so they do seem likely to be two of the important topics for GAMSAT exams.

Glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose into pyruvate and the subsequent utilisation of energy in the ten steps involved in the process. Intermediate steps of Glycolysis involve many important mechanisms. While studying glycosis, do emphasise on the two steps which involve substrate level phosphorylation and also study the fates of the end product that is pyruvate. Any basic biochemistry book can provide you with these explanations. A gist of complete process in given in the picture as follows:

The next significant topic in GAMSAT Biology is the Citric acid cycle also known as the Tri-Carboxylic Acid (TCA) cycle or the Kreb’s cycle refers to a complex series of chemical reactions in all cells that utilize oxygen as part of their respiration process and produces carbon dioxide and ATP.

Some of the reactions of TCA cycle such as conversion of Citrate to ?-Ketoglutarate and conversion Succinyl CoA to Fumarate are equally important from the GAMSAT point of view, along with the knowledge of the total ATP, NADH, FADH₂ and CO₂ that are produced in the cycle and then enter into the Electron transport chain as shown below:

If you are a student of biochemistry then you must be aware of the book called Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry. Though the book looks huge enough, it has a simple and approachable language and explains Glycolysis and Kreb’s cycle in full detail along with appropriate figures and reaction mechanisms.

Also, we would suggest you to practice as many GAMSAT sample questions as you can for a thorough understanding of the pattern of questions that are most expected from the topics mentioned above.

Hope this information proves to be beneficial enough for you. All the best for your preparation!!!