One of the other courses I’m taking this semester is Biological Basis of Behavior, a psychology class. I’ve noticed that several topics we’ve covered in biochemistry parallel those in psychology, which has made both classes more engaging for me. For instance, earlier in the semester we studied neurotransmitters and, more recently, hormones, both of which also came up in biochemistry. What I find most interesting is how each course approaches the same subject from a different angle and level of depth. In psychology, we recently discussed metabolism. One slide stated simply: “Insulin takes sugar from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen in the liver and muscle.” It was funny to me because I knew from biochemistry that this process is far more complex. Insulin doesn’t directly “store” sugar, it’s a hormone that signals target cells to take up glucose, triggering a cascade of reactions that ultimately synthesize glycogen. Because of what I’ve learned in biochemistry, I understood the detailed mechanism behind that simple slide. This experience highlighted for me how valuable it is to study a topic from multiple perspectives. It deepened my appreciation for both courses and allowed me to think about how the systems we study overlap.
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I really love your observation about the overlap between biochemistry and psychology! I’ve noticed something similar, learning a common topic in both my humanities and STEM courses and how it makes the material all the more meaningful. Your example perfectly illustrates how a concept can be explored at multiple levels of depth, which in turn enriches understanding. I think your point highlights the interconnectedness of different fields, and it makes me reflect on how studying across disciplines can strengthen critical thinking and help us grasp the “bigger picture” in science.
I love liberal arts moments like these! It’s interesting to recognize what has been simplified in one class vs. flushed out in another. You make a great point that combining the two classes not only gives you another opportunity to solidify the content, but also creates connections and builds on content from each class’s emphasis for a better understanding which benefits you in both classes. I’m sure there will continue to be more overlaps in content as the semester goes on.
I definitely agree- it is so interesting to learn about topics through different lenses and i love seeing what different professors find important to highlight within their expertise. I also took Biological Basis of Behavior last spring and see many parallels between that, this class, and my Human Physiology class. I have especially found learning about neurons in these two classes rewarding because it has helped me gain an understanding of both their structural anatomy and their function in psychology. I think it’s also important that while professors try to be concise and simple in their explanations of material that is beyond the course’s curriculum, to make sure their definitions don’t include false or misleading information. It would be an interesting assignment to try and come up with a short lesson/slide to explain insulin to students who need to have a rough idea of what it is but don’t need to go too far into specifics.