MBBS subject guide
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is where the reactions of the cell become clinical reasoning: metabolic pathways, enzymes, molecular biology, nutrition and the...
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- Phase 1, Pre-Clinical
Study Biochemistry
Biochemistry is where the reactions of the cell become clinical reasoning: metabolic pathways, enzymes, molecular biology, nutrition and the laboratory tests that report them. The NMC framework splits the subject into eleven competency areas and codes each teachable point, for example BI3.4 for carbohydrate metabolism or BI11.5 for urine screening in inborn errors. MedNext maps all 11 biochemistry chapters to those codes, so you can see which competencies are covered and which still need work. Metabolism carries the heaviest exam weight. Carbohydrate, lipid and protein pathways, their regulation and their disorders recur across written papers and viva, and they underpin diabetes, dyslipidaemia and the metabolic syndrome you will meet in medicine. Enzymes, molecular biology and clinical laboratory tests are smaller in volume but consistently tested, and a firm grip on lab interpretation pays off through the whole course. Applied biochemistry is built in: the biochemical tumour markers behind an oncology work-up, the lipoprotein cycle behind a lipid profile, and the buffer chemistry behind an acid-base disturbance are all tagged to their codes. Each chapter pairs a detailed reading with practice questions and a one-page cheat sheet under the same NMC tags. Learn the pathways once and revision becomes a checklist rather than a re-read.
Browse Biochemistry chapters
BI1: Basic Biochemistry and the Cell
Basic biochemistry for MBBS: water, pH and buffers, the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, and the metabolic role of cell...
Read moreBI2: Enzymes
Enzymes for MBBS: Michaelis-Menten kinetics, Km and Vmax, inhibitor types, isoenzymes and serum enzyme markers, mapped...
Read moreBI3: Chemistry and Metabolism of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate metabolism for MBBS: glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, citric acid cycle, HMP shunt, glycogen storage diseases...
Read moreBI4: Chemistry and Metabolism of Lipids
Lipid metabolism for MBBS: beta-oxidation, fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, ketone bodies, lipoproteins and...
Read moreBI5: Chemistry and Metabolism of Proteins
Protein metabolism for MBBS: protein structure, transamination, the urea cycle and inborn errors such as...
Read moreBI6: Metabolism and Homeostasis
Metabolism and homeostasis for MBBS: fed and fasting states, oxidative phosphorylation, nucleotide metabolism and...
Read moreBI7: Molecular Biology
Molecular biology for MBBS: DNA and RNA structure, replication, transcription, translation, mutation and repair, PCR...
Read moreBI8: Nutrition
Nutrition for MBBS: energy needs, balanced diet and fibre, marasmus and kwashiorkor, obesity risks and the glycaemic...
Read moreBI9: Extracellular Matrix
Extracellular matrix for MBBS: collagen and elastin, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, scurvy and...
Read moreBI10: Oncogenesis and Immunity
Oncogenesis and immunity for MBBS: oncogenes, tumour suppressors and tumour markers, innate and adaptive immunity,...
Read moreBI11: Biochemical Laboratory Tests
Clinical biochemistry for MBBS: colorimetry and spectrophotometry, urine analysis, renal and liver function tests,...
Read moreBiochemistry questions
How many biochemistry chapters does MedNext cover?
The biochemistry subject hub covers 11 chapters, spanning enzymes, carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism, molecular biology, nutrition and clinical laboratory tests. Each chapter is mapped to its NMC competency codes, so coverage is visible rather than assumed.
Is biochemistry content mapped to the NMC competency framework?
Yes. Every biochemistry chapter, practice question and cheat sheet is tagged to an official NMC competency code, for example BI3.4 for the pathways of carbohydrate metabolism. This is the same framework that MBBS university exams, NEET PG and NExT draw from.
Which biochemistry topics carry the most exam weight?
Metabolism dominates. Carbohydrate, lipid and protein pathways, their regulation and their disorders recur across papers and viva, and clinical laboratory interpretation is tested throughout. These areas also link directly to diabetes and dyslipidaemia in medicine.
Does MedNext include biochemistry MCQs and revision material?
Each biochemistry chapter is paired with practice questions and a one-page cheat sheet, all tagged to the same NMC codes as the reading. That lets you move from learning a competency to testing and revising it without leaving the topic.
Can I preview biochemistry before paying?
Yes. You can preview the platform and read a free sample chapter after registering, then view plans when you are ready to decide.
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