Biology Mnemonics To Know For the DAT and OAT

Author image
Reviewed by
Dr. Joel Meyerson
Key Takeaway
Table of Contents

    Mnemonics are a great tool to memorizing large amounts of information quickly. Here are a couple I used to answer some questions on the DAT and OAT:

    Cell Division / Cell Biology

    Cell Replication Phases = I Pee on a MAT

    • I = Interphase
      P = Prophase
      M = Metaphase
      A = Anaphase
      T = Telophase

    Metaphase = “M” = Middle

    • All chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell at the metaphase Plate

    Anaphase = “A” = Apart

    • Sister chromatids are pulled Apart

    Pyrimidines = CUT the PYE (pyrimidine)

    • C = Cytosine
      U = Uracil
      T = Thymine

    Purines = Pure (purine) Silver (Ag)

    • A = Adenine
      G = Guanine

    Ion Movement Across a Membrane = Salted Bananas

    • 3 Sodium ions (“salt”) flow out of the cell and 2 Potassium ions (“bananas”) into the cell

    Central Dogma = Roast Turkey Later

    • R = Replication
      T = Transcription
      L = transLation

    Anatomy & Physiology

    Sequence of the Small Intestine = The small intestine “Don’t Just Injest”

    • D = Duodenum
      J = Jejunum
      I = Ileum

    COPS = Four Types of Myelinated Cells in the Nervous System

    • Central NS: Oligodendrocytes
      Peripheral NS: Schwann Cells

    Epidermis Layers = Come Lets Get Sun Burned

    • C = Corneum
      L = Lucidum
      G = Granulosum
      S = Spinosum
      B = Basal

    Liver Functions = PUSH DoG

    • P = Protein synthesis
      U = Urea synethesis
      S = Storage
      H = Hormone synthesis
      D = DetOxification
      G = Glucose and fat metabolism

    Afferent vs. Efferent Neurons = SAME DAVE

    • S, A= Sensory, Afferent
      M, E = Motor, Efferent
      D, A = Dorsal, Afferent
      V, E = Ventral, Efferent

    FLAT PEG = Hormones secreted by the Anterior Pituitary

    • F = Follicle stimulating hormone
      L = Luteinizing hormone
      A = ACTH
      T = Thyroid stimulating hormone
      P = Prolactin
      E = Endorphins
      G = Growth hormone

    Calcitonin/Parathyroid Differentiation

    • CalciTONin = “Tone it down” = Decrease in blood calcium
      Parathyroid is the opposite

    Taxonomy

    Four Chordate Features = Do Not Pinch People

    • D = Dorsal hollow nerve cord
      N = Notochord
      P = Pharyngeal gill slits
      P = muscular Post-anal tail

    King Phillip Came Over From Great Spain (or King Phillip Came Over For Great Soup)

    • K = Kingdom
      P = Phylum
      C = Class
      O = Order
      F = Family
      G = Genus
      S = Species

    Phylogeny

    Animal Kingdom Phylums = How to remember which are acoelomates, pseudocoelomates, and coelomates = Privileged Children Play Nicely and Maturely Always Ensuring Cooperation

    • P = Porifera
      C = Cnidarian
      P = Platyhelminthes
      N = Nematoda
      A = Annelida
      M = Mollusca
      A = Arthropoda
      E = Echinodermata
      C = Chordates
      * Rotifers are pseudocoelomates (not included in this mnemonic)

    Immunology

    Order of White Blood Cell Abundance in Blood = Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas

    • N = Neutrophils (most abundant)
      L = Lymphocytes
      M = Monocytes
      E = Eosinophils
      B = Basophils (least abundant)

    Evolution

    Hardy-Weinberg Requirements = Large Random M&M

    • L = Large population
      R = Random mating
      M = no Mutation
      N = no Natural selection
      M = no Migration

    Biology Lab Techniques

    Southern Northern and Western Blot = SNOW DROP

    • S = Southern blot = D = DNA detection
      N = Northern blot = R = RNA detection
      O = –
      W = Western blot = P = Protein detection
    Save 100+ hours of your life studying with Bootcamp.com

    Get everything you need in one place. Start studying today for free.

    Start Studying for Free
    Hannah Brein, DAT Bootcamp Student