Qualifier Information

Key Dates

The qualifier will open Wednesday, September 18 and your answers must be uploaded by 11:45 PM on Sunday, September 22.

Download the guide.

This guide is not exhaustive, but if you follow the guide, you should pass the qualifier.

There will be one question per session in the Biochemistry thread (including workshops).
The questions will focus on content that has clinical significance or connection.
Be sure to have a general understanding of the major methods described in the course (e.g., DNA sequencing, PCR, generating mouse models of disease).

Identify and classify in histological images epithelia, connective tissue and muscle
Identify the different components of blood vessels in histological images and electron micrographs
Describe the general functions of different types of epithelia
Diagram how epithelia generate vectorial transport of solutes and water
Understand the general process of renewal of epithelia by stem cells
List the functions of the basement membrane
In histological images, identify signs of inflammation (immune response) and fibrosis
Know the different components of different types of connective tissue
Know the proteins that mediate interactions between cells and between cells and the extracellular matrix
Describe the basic mechanisms of muscle contraction and its activation in different muscle types
Diagram the homeostatic mechanisms that keep blood glucose concentrations around 5 mM.
List the oncogenic components of mitogen signaling pathways
Understand how tumor suppressors slow the cell cycle
Diagram how G-protein coupled receptors increase protein kinase A or protein kinase C activity
Diagram the PI-3 kinase and Ras pathways that are activated by tyrosine kinase receptors
Describe how chaperones facilitate protein stability and function

Diagram how the different ion channels and their permeability set resting membrane potential
Describe the changes in ion channels that generate action potentials in neurons and skeletal muscle
Describe how cells can take up a specific solute against a concentration gradient
Calculate the volume of fluid in the different body compartments of a patient given the patient’s weight
Given blood tests results, identify abnormal concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate and anion gap
Calculate how administration of a certain volume and concentration of saline changes the fluid distribution in the body

Differentiate between competitive and non-competitive inhibitors
Calculate the fraction of drug a that is absorbed by the body based on the pKa of the drug and the pH of the fluid compartments
Calculate the rates of clearance, volume of distribution and bioavailability of a drug
Diagram drug conjugation and detoxification pathways
Understand the steps in target validation, lead identification, lead optimization and formulation.

Differentiate the processes of metaplasia, hyperplasia, dysplasia, apoptosis, and atrophy
Identify conditions that lead to metaplasia, hyperplasia, dysplasia, apoptosis, and atrophy
Identify in histological images examples of reversible and irreversible cell injury