Pre-Med and Key Requirements for a Medical School !

What is pre-med? When people say that they’re pre-med, what does that actually mean? If you’re planning to attend a med-school and become a doctor, it’s important that you understand the definition of pre-med and what you should be doing as a pre-med student.

Read on to learn what it really means to be a pre-med, what you should be focusing on to get into med school, and what the best majors for pre-meds are and why.

What Does Pre-Med Mean?

“Pre-med” is the term people use to show that they want to go to a med-school and are taking the classes they need to get there. It’s primarily used by college students. There isn’t actually a major called “pre-med;” pre-med is just a term to let people know you have plans to be a doctor. You can be a biology major and a pre-med, a Spanish major and a pre-med, etc.

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The PhD journey: A guide to applying, starting and succeeding

To postgraduates, a PhD may seem like an ideal opportunity to improve research skills prior to future work. However, the application process is a competitive and often challenging experience. This article seeks to de-mystify some of the common questions surrounding PhD applications and provide some hints and tips for potential applicants.

1. Is a PhD for you?

An increasing number of postgraduates are applying for PhD study to develop their academic and professional skills. However, before you begin to consider searching for positions, you must be fully aware of what studying for a PhD actually entails. A PhD is the highest degree a person can achieve. It will involve around three years’ full-time (up to six years’ part-time) work, culminating in a thesis of somewhere around 80,000 words. It is research-intensive, with you developing and leading projects and writing papers in your chosen field of study. Although you will have the support of two or more specialist supervisors, a PhD is by-and-large independent work.

Read more: The PhD journey: A guide to applying, starting and succeeding

Source: academia

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MacConkey Agar (MAC): Composition, preparation, application and colony characteristics

MacConkey agar was developed in 20th century by Alfred Theodore MacConkey. It was the first formulated solid differential media. MacConkey Agar is a selective and differential culture media commonly used for the isolation of enteric Gram-negative bacteria. It is based on the bile salt-neutral red-lactose agar of MacConkey. Crystal violet and bile salts in incorporated in MacConkey Agar to prevent the growth of gram-positive bacteria and fastidious gram-negative bacteria, such as Neisseria and Pasteurella. Gram-negative enteric bacteria can tolerate to bile salt because of their bile-resistant outer membrane.

MacConkey Agar is selective for Gram negative organisms, and helps to differentiate lactose fermenting gram negative rods from Non lactose fermenting gram negative rods. It is primarily used for detection and isolation of members of family enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp.

Composition of MacConeky Agar:

Enzymatic Digest of Gelatin, Casein and Animal tissue: provides nitrogen, vitamins, minerals and amino acids essential for growth.

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MacConkey Agar (MAC): Composition, preparation, application and colony characteristics

LF and NLF colonies in MacConkey Agar

Source: microbeonline