DNA Replication in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes + Sanger Sequencing

Alongside the Transcription-Translation notes (and the metabolism and repair mechanism notes), the regular (and in-vitro) prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA replication mechanisms should also be covered. This shorter PDF is jam-packed with info, so pay attention to the details. PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Om9WVqo3AonPt7zBRlW_M_F0AleMvgtv/view?usp=sharing

Joel Thute

Aug 311 min read

Signal Transduction Pathways | Insulin Release and Glycogenesis

This will be the first in a series of blog posts (of at least 4–5) where I will go into detail about particular signal transduction pathways, in which the body regulates certain metabolites depending on physiological need (eg. blood glucose, storage, immune response, etc.) This first post will focus on the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Pathway for Insulin and Glucose Storage Regulation. PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WeCG5aGb2tus0eZjhKO1obxbmyStmaPT/view?usp=sharing A ma

Biochemistry Notes

Joel Thute

Aug 311 min read

General Biochemistry in a Single Notebook | MCAT

Students entering their final years tend to take their hardest courses. Some of which include Biochemistry 1 (and 2, for those in the Biochemistry Major, Minor or those who merely want an academic challenge). Below are links to my notes regarding the MCAT and in class-notes on Biochemistry 1. The MCAT set does not include Sugar Metabolism (which is included in Biochem 2 for the specific self-paced course I took), while the second link does include sugar metabolism (except th

Joel Thute

Aug 231 min read

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Organic Chemistry Notes

Organic Chemistry 2 | Chapter 22: Amines

Most of the reactions in this chapter are known from other chapters, but there are several different reactions regarding the synthesis of amines via Azides, and Gabriel Synthesis, and the topic of Diazonium Salts. Hope this helps! Chapter 22: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aBSLItcTZ0NkByoY5SNXh9UT2Ap9NF4x/view?usp=drive_link

Apr 27, 20251 min read

Organic Chemistry 2 | Chapter 21: Alpha Carbon Chemistry: Enols and Enolates

This chapter can often be difficult for students studying organic chemistry because of the uniqueness of the topic, so work through these notes slowly, understanding each detail as keenly as possible. Also, use the Soderberg Part 2 Notes–Chapters 12 to 13, since they relate heavily to this specific chapter, and in my opinion, phrased and positioned better for comprehension. Hope these notes help! Chapter 21: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IpteU6gLPUoO2I10VCtZseVy3xg4gNzt/vi

Apr 16, 20251 min read

Organic Chemistry 2 | Chapter 20: Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives

This chapter is quite fun; it's very similar to the Soderberg Chapter 11: Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution Reactions. Most of the material is shared between them, but there are some key differences. One main difference is that Soderberg's textbook provides more info on biological contexts with the usage of ATP and its derivatives, while the Klein Textbook focuses more laboratory synthesis. Both are incredibly important for the MCAT, especially since these reactions continuous f

Apr 5, 20251 min read

Organic Chemistry 2 | Chapter 19: Aldehydes and Ketones Notes

Klein's chapter 19 of Organic Chemistry covers the same material as Chapter 10 of Soderberg's Organic Chemistry with a Biological Emphasis: Nucleophilic Addition to Carbonyls. The key to understanding these reactions is that the carbon in the double bond with oxygen has a positive delta via resonance with the Oxygen, making it susceptible to nucleophilic attacks. Once this pattern is understood, most of the reactions mentioned will be quite reasonable and logical. Hope this h

Mar 22, 20251 min read

Organic Chemistry 2 | Notes for Chapter 17 & 18: Aromatic Compounds & Aromatic Substitution Reactions | Klein 4th Edition

For these 2 chapters, they relate to the complexity and nature of aromatic compounds and the various reactions that occur with them. A...

Mar 18, 20251 min read

Organic Chemistry 2 | Chapter 16: Conjugated π Systems and Pericyclic Reactions

Rather than making notes for Chapter 14 and Chapter 15 (Mass Spectroscopy, IR-Spec, and NMR, respectively), I chose to rely on my Soderberg Notes on Biological Organic Chemistry, which was posted in a previous blog – in Part 1 of the Personalized Soderberg Notes. For these conjugated π systems and Pericyclic Reactions, though, there are some niche areas that are not covered in Soderberg's textbook, mainly because pericyclic reactions are quite rarely in the body except for el

Mar 2, 20251 min read

Organic Chemistry 2 | Chapter 13: Ethers and Epoxides; Thiols and Sulfides

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TrnOij-XkUwR1kZTxZqv8gATJqD_DejE/view?usp=drive_link

Mar 2, 20251 min read

Organic Chemistry 2 | Chapter 12: Alcohols and Phenols

For Organic Chemistry 2, there is a major emphasis on reactions, so for these series of blog posts, they will be separated by chapter. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TrnOij-XkUwR1kZTxZqv8gATJqD_DejE/view?usp=drive_link

Mar 2, 20251 min read

Baylor Organic Chemistry 1 Notes

BACKSIDE ATTACK! For Organic Chem 1 (OC1), most of the topics learned are entirely new and unique comparing to General Chemistry, and is taught differently from textbook to textbook. Since I go to Baylor University, we use the Klein 4th Edition Textbook, which over the semester taking the course, I have made some rigorous notes regarding mechanisms and different ideas needed to understand key concepts. Some of the chapters are not fully fledged out due to my usage of the oth

Mar 2, 20251 min read

Organic Chemistry in a Nut Shell | Tips and Advice

Organic Chemistry (OC) for most, if not all, students is a challenging endeavor that is strenuous and exhausting. This is because OC is a different animal comparing to General Chemistry, where the former is based on logical reasoning and inference of general principles and diagrams, and the latter entirely on calculations. Consequently, OC is an uphill battle; however, there are ways to alleviate this problem: with friends and with different perspectives. In this post, I will

Jan 7, 20253 min read

Hi Y'all! I'm Joel and I am the creator of STEM Made Easy. I'm currently a third year pre-medical student majoring in Biochemistry at Baylor University, and I am the Organic Chemistry 2 Master Tutor (similar to Supplemental Instructor but more personalized and open to all students throughout campus) at the Sid Richardson Success Center Learning Commons (Formerly known as the Tutor Center). I made this website during my first year at Baylor after completing and excelling at both OChem courses to provide free resources for students eager to learn about STEM subjects, while also making it easier for them to learn said subjects. In this website, I will primarily focus on all the chemistry-related subjects like General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry.

Over the course of my undergraduate career and on I will continue to update this blog to provide more of my resources that I have gathered entirely for free use, especially in areas relating to the MCAT. Good luck in your studies!