Intelligence in Pharmacy.... Part II

Predicting an event based on the studied information

Here we land up in bit difficulty in using it. This is in no way a mere task to be done. Prediction phenomenon involved application of brain; We can predict related events only when we know the foundation of the informative building. If we know an existing information well and are clear with all the related concepts, we are ready to make a successful prediction. Perhaps, I think the best examples which can be cited with reference to this point are the studies of Organic Chemistry, predicting New Drug Application (NDA) during clinical trials based on reported observations and so on...

Even, we all had a great discussion over the difficulty confronted by the students in facing Organic Chemistry in one of my fellow's blog post. Predicting a reaction mechanism of a difficult reaction based on the structural differences and similarities and also conditional differences of reaction environment may help in predicting a reaction mechanism successfully.

Ability to link different pieces of facts

We study or have studied different subjects during our pharmacy course. We all know, all these subjects ultimately aim at developing the subjective knowledge involved in pharmacy and to help students inculcate pharmacy practice skills. Hence, all these subjects must be inter-related in some way and developing a successful pharmacy skill relies upon one's ability to link different pieces of facts, subjects, events etc. with each other.

e.g.- Biochemistry and Pharmacology are both studied during bachelors course of pharmacy. Now, as we all know sulphonamides are structural analogues of Para-amino Benzoic acid (PABA) and are anti-microbial, which we study in pharmacology. Now, to look at its biochemical aspects, PABA is used in formation of folic acid using the enzyme Dihydropteroate Synthetase. Now linking these 2 pieces of information, we get that sulphonamides are competitive inhibitors of enzyme Dihydropteroate Synthetase and thereby prevent synthesis of folic acid by the bacteria and ultimately kills them since folic acid is also required by them in purine biosynthesis and hence prevents cell division of bacterial cell.

Power of Understanding

This in a great way, related to the power of grasping cited in the previous blog. Understanding facts is something that requires application of mind and running it in all possible directions to get the condition occurring. It is found that a student with a high IQ (though, IQ has been doubted by many researchers) has a high ability to understand facts. Linking this phenomenon to our stream, a student must have the capability to grasp and understand the pharmacy thing quickly and with great clarity.

Quickness of Study

A student might be very quick in studying. He might be initially considered to be greatly intelligent. But, if the same is asked to recollect the studied information after few days and he fails to do so, then does he really deserve that title? Perhaps, no. This suggests that quickness of study and power of recollection go shoulder to shoulder. Talking about just spontaneity to study, one must possess this quality as it not only saves much time but also allows to go for further levels of study.

Conclusion

All these points are not the only points to be considered in defining intelligence. Many more factors come into play. Its possible that a student is really deserving the tag, but at times he/she fails to give desired output; might be due to some factors like absence of mood etc. Hence, psychology at a given situation also has a role to play. Basically, the scenario is much complex. Everyone looks at it with different angle. Consequently, everyone may define it in different way. But the basic meaning remains more or less same, i.e- the blend of those different points when aggregated yields a same meaning to the word. I don't mean that what I said are the only points to be considered, neither do I contradict the idea arising in your mind. But I would surely do like to listen to any point from you I have missed.