An introductory survey of life at the cellular level primarily intended for prospective biology majors, but also open to interested students not majoring in science. Beginning with an introduction to the evolution and complexity of life, including the prokaryotes and the viruses, the course proceeds to examine the commonality of life at both the biochemical and cellular levels. A central section deals with energy transfer in living systems (fermentation, respiration, and photosynthesis), followed by another major section dealing with information transfer (genetics, nucleic acid replication, transcription, and translation). The course ends with discussions of more complex topics (genetic engineering, human genetics, and immunology). The laboratory portion of the course provides an introduction to the methodologies and instrumentation found in the modern biology lab. This course is appropriate for those interested in a career in the health professions and others interested in a broadly based view of modern biology. Offered every fall. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in Chemistry 141 concurrently.

Prerequisite: eligibility for Q courses, and experience in high school biology and chemistry.

An introduction to organismal biology and ecology, primarily for those who intend to continue in biology; also open to interested students not majoring in science. Topics include population genetics, evolution, vertebrate embryology and anatomy, and animal phylogeny, taxonomy, and ecology. Biology 142 may be taken before Biology 141, if necessary. Students majoring in biology are strongly encouraged to enroll in Chemistry 142 concurrently.

Prerequisite: eligibility for Q courses.

This course provides a background in: (1) the basic methods of data analysis for biologists, (2) the applications of mathematics to the description of biological phenomena, and (3) the generation of testable hypotheses from models of biological processes. The goal of this course is to give students a general idea of what statistical methods are commonly used in biology, which methods are appropriate for which types of data, and to provide an in-depth examination of how the methods work. Among topics covered are elementary probability and statistics, fitting and hypothesis testing, characteristics of frequency distributions, regression analysis, and some multivariate based methods.

Prerequisite: eligibility for Q courses.

The course provides an introduction to our dynamic earth on its true timescale. We will examine physical processes operating on the earth and how it has changed since its formation. This includes longer time scale processes like climate change and glaciation as well as hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and meteorite impacts. We will weave in the beginning of life, its consequences for the earth, evolution, and extinction. Labs will involve field trips to local sites of geologic interest.

Prerequisite: eligibility for Q courses.

This is an introductory course aimed at studying the genetics and evolution of organisms. Along with major themes in those areas, we will examine topics ranging from ecology and behavior to physiology and biomechanics. A major theme of the course will be to understand why biologists often use a few "model organisms" to examine topics that are more widely applicable. Includes a lab.

Prerequisites: Q-eligible

This course takes an introductory look at the relationships between genetics, environment, and biochemistry. It is intended for students with a strong interest in science and is appropriate for biology majors. The course will begin with an examination of heredity in both classical and modern molecular contexts. It will then focus on the relationships between genes and proteins, and the complex biochemical interactions that produce a phenotype. The course will culminate in a discussion of the ways in which the environment interacts with multiple genes to influence complex traits, for example schizophrenia, and the modern methods applied to the problem of identifying the genetic components of these traits. The laboratory will provide an opportunity to examine some of the principles discussed in the lecture in more detail and to become acquainted with some of the methodologies and instrumentation found in a modern biology Laboratory.

Prerequisites: eligibility for Q courses, and experience in high school biology and chemistry.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/tibbetts/courses/genes_to_traits/

In this course, intended for students with a strong interest in science, and appropriate for biology majors, we will examine scientific issues related to biological diversity. In addition to studying characteristics of the major groups of organisms on Earth, we will investigate both the evolutionary causes and the ecological consequences of diversity. We will examine patterns of biodiversity through time, including developing an understanding of how the present loss of biodiversity compares in magnitude and rate to previous periods of extinction. Finally, we will evaluate methods for preserving biodiversity based on principles of conservation biology. Throughout this course, we will explore the use of statistical methods for evaluating scientific data.

Prerequisite: Strong background in high school biology, and successful completion of Q exam.

This course is an introduction to the mechanisms of inheritance and the generation of diversity in eukaryotic organisms. This course takes a modern approach to the study of genetics in which classical ideas about genotype, phenotype and inheritance are integrated into the modern molecular and genomic understanding of the processes involved in the generation of diversity. In addition to discussions of the molecular mechanisms involved in DNA replication, recombination, the generation and repair of mutations, and the relationship between genotype and phenotype, special consideration is given to our understanding of the processes involved in generating population-level variation in complex traits and how this understanding can help us identify the myriad genetic and non-genetic factors influencing these traits. The laboratory consists of a semester long project involving the genetic manipulation of a model organism’s genome to address one or more topics in the course. Offered every fall.

Prerequisite: One year of college biology.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/tibbetts/courses/genetics/

Students in this course will learn the fundamental principles of ecology and how they relate to the principles of evolution. The emphasis throughout the course will be on the development of mathematical models of natural phenomena, the testing of hypotheses through experiments, and reading of the primary literature. Major topics will include population growth and regulation, interactions among species, and causes and consequences of species diversity.

Prerequisite: Biology 201 or permission of the instructor.

The focus of this course is the relationship between the physical and chemical functions of various organs and organ systems to overall homeostasis, with an emphasis on human physiology. Systems examined include the central and peripheral nervous systems, muscle, the heart and blood vessels, blood, the lungs, the kidneys, the digestive system, the endocrine glands, and the reproductive systems. Laboratory work provides practical experience in relevant topics of human physiology. This course is appropriate for those interested in a career in the health professions and others interested in animal biology. Offered in alternate spring semesters.

Prerequisites: Biology 141-142 and Chemistry 141-142; Chemistry 201-202 is recommended concurrently.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/ferguson/course/bio204/

This course consists of lectures, labs, and frequent field trips. The first part of the course surveys the plant kingdom and focuses on anatomy, histology, and physiology, with an emphasis on form, function, and adaptation. The last third of the semester covers local flora, taxonomy, and plant ecology.

Prerequisites: Biology 141-142 and Chemistry 141-142 or permission of the instructor.

An introduction to general biochemistry, including protein structure, enzyme mechanisms and kinetics, coenzymes, thermodynamics, central metabolic pathways, biological membranes, DNA structure and replication, and ribosomal translation. An emphasis is placed on integrating knowledge of fundamental organic chemistry into a biological context. Laboratory work provides practical experience in the topics covered. Offered in alternate fall semesters. Prerequisites: Biology 141 and Chemistry 201-202.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/ferguson/course/bio301/

In this course the molecular and biochemical mechanisms controlling the dynamic cellular processes involving DNA and RNA are examined through close reading of the primary and secondary literatures. Discussions of review articles on particular topics precede in-depth discussions of one or more research articles in those areas. The literature is read with the objective of understanding the current models describing molecular processes, as well as the experimental rationale and the modern techniques used to probe fundamental molecular mechanisms and test the models. Of particular consideration are the regulatory mechanisms controlling such processes as DNA replication, transcription, translation and genome structure. The laboratory consists of a semester long project in which a cellular or developmental process is probed at the molecular level. Offered in alternate spring semesters.

Prerequisites: Biology 201-202 and Chemistry 201-202.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/tibbetts/courses/molecular/

The biology and ecology of the prokaryotes and the viruses. Every attempt is made to organize the diversity of the prokaryotes into a modern phylogenetic context based on the latest results of molecular evolutionary analyses. The first portion of the course deals with prokaryotic cell biology and growth, the second with plant viruses, viroids, bacteriophages, animal viruses, and prions, and the third with the diversity of the prokaryotes, ranging from
the Archaea through both pathogenic and nonpathogenic Bacteria. Laboratory work provides practical experience in dealing with prokaryotes and bacteriophages. This course is appropriate for both those interested in a career in the health professions and those interested in ecology. Offered in alternate fall semesters; this course is a prerequisite for Biology 310. Prerequisites: Biology 141-142 and Chemistry 141-142; Chemistry 201-202 is recommended concurrently.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/ferguson/course/bio303/

This course examines the molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in processes relating to eukaryotic cellular: organization, communication, movement, reproduction and death. These topics are considered through close reading of the primary and secondary literatures. Discussions of review articles on particular topics precede in-depth discussions of one or more research articles in those areas. The literature is read with the objective of understanding the current models describing cellular processes, as well as the experimental rationale and the modern techniques used to probe fundamental cellular mechanisms and test the models. The laboratory consists of a semester long project in which a cellular process is investigated. Offered in alternate spring semesters.

Prerequisites: Biology 201-202 and Chemistry 201-202.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/tibbetts/courses/cell/

Surveys the natural history, evolution, and ecology of the vertebrates native to the Hudson Valley region. Lab sessions are used for identification, taxonomy, and study techniques, with as much work as possible done in the field. Occasionally, evening or weekend classes are required. Prerequisites: Biology 141-142, Upper College status, and permission of the instructor; Biology 305 is recommended.

Freshwater ecosystems span a wide range of varied environments. This course will explore the physical and chemical processes that structure these ecosystems and examine how these influence the abundance and diversity of plants and animals. We will subsequently be able to look at how different human activities are affecting our freshwater resources. The course is lab/field work-intensive and will involve studying several lakes, wetlands, streams, and rivers in the area.

Prerequisites: Chem 142 and two Biology courses, at least one at the 200 level.

Considers biological inheritance in prokaryotes (bacteria) and their viruses (bacteriophages). Lectures alternate with student presentations of fundamental papers in chronological order. Topics include mutagenesis and repair, plasmids, conjugation, transformation, intemperate and temperate phages, transduction, transposition and nonhomologous recombination, homologous recombination, and the regulation of gene expression. Laboratory work provides practical experience in the topics covered. Offered in alternate spring semesters. Prerequisites: Biology 201, Biology 303 and Chemistry 201-202.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/ferguson/course/bio310/

Our planet is basically a closed system, and cycles of certain elements dictate life-determining processes. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon cycles are of particular interest in understanding patterns of life on earth. At different time scales, geological, biological, and chemical processes all play important roles mediating the availability of these nutrients. We will examine how interactions between biological processes (like primary productivity) and geological processes (like rock weathering) influence nutrient availability and long-term climate. With this understanding, we will investigate how various human activities such as agriculture and energy consumption are affecting these cycles and the implications for these impacts.

Prerequisites: Chemistry 142 and two Biology courses, at least one at the 200 level.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most complicated physiological abnormalities to afflict humans, and is also one of the most common. It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing diabetes for individuals born in 2000 is 33% for males and 38% for females. It is responsible for a large fraction of the morbidity and mortality of developed nations. In this seminar we will examine the development of our current scientific understanding of diabetes
by examining the medical and scientific literature in chronological order, starting with the Ebers papyrus (1536 BC) and Arataeus the Cappadocian (ad 200) through papers describing the latest developments in the field. Wherever possible, participants will be provided an opportunity to see the works in the languages in which they were originally written. The course is designed to provide a historical perspective on the development of current notions of the disease and to provide an opportunity for seniors to apply their knowledge of many subdisciplines of biology to a single problem. 2 credits, no laboratory. Prerequisites: extensive course work in molecular biology, cellular, and organismal biology; senior status; permission of the instructor.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/ferguson/course/bio407/

Is your roommate really a vegetarian? How do we know that tequila hasn’t been altered by adding alcohol from grain? Did our early ancestors grow fat on meat or milk? Is ocean productivity declining in the North Pacific? How do we know what the earth’s past climate was like? Is sewage input affecting deep ocean food webs? Stable isotopes provide a simple approach to many environmental questions that might otherwise be difficult to answer. This class will cover some of the ways that oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen stable isotopes can be used to study nutrient sources, biochemical processes, and food web interactions. The class will be based primarily on student presentation and discussion of current literature to learn about different uses of stable isotopes in science and forensics. Students will do a small isotope project that they will present at the end of the semester.

Cancer is a genetic disease that cannot be inherited, it is a disease in which one's own cells disrupt normal physiological functions, it is a disease for which some therapies result in the loss of the bodies ability to fight disease. This advanced course will look at the complex reasons for these paradoxes and more by looking at a particular cancer from several perspectives: epidemiological, physiological, genetic, molecular and cellular. A seminar style approach will be taken in which both text and the primary literature sources will be used to examine issues of cancer cause, progression, and treatment. Students will be expected to present primary literature articles and to write a research paper on a type of cancer. Prerequisites: moderated in biology and permission of instructor.
Website: http://biology.bard.edu/tibbetts/courses/CancerBiology/

Both morbidity and mortality due to infectious disease declined steadily during the 20^th century in developed nations, but remain high in poorer nations. Students examine the reasons for this tenuous disparity as they study the agents of bacterial, viral, protozoan, and metazoan disease. Diseases covered include anthrax, typhoid fever, cholera, botulism, tetanus, bubonic plague, Lyme disease, leprosy, tuberculosis, influenza, smallpox, rabies, yellow fever, polio, AIDS, malaria, African sleeping sickness, and schistosomiasis, among others. Many of the readings are relatively nontechnical case histories, but the biology underlying each condition is thoroughly developed. This course is of interest to those aiming for a career in the health professions, but is also designed to provide liberal arts students with some degree of medical literacy in these health issues. The laboratory portion introduces students to bacteria and viruses that are relatively nonpathogenic for humans.

Prerequisite: experience in high school biology and chemistry.

Website: http://biology.bard.edu/ferguson/course/bio112/

While both morbidity and mortality from infectious disease declined steadily during the 20th century in developed nations, they remained constant for noninfectious diseases. Students examine the reasons for this failure to deal more effectively with these conditions as they study various specific diseases. Examples include inherited diseases such as sickle-cell anemia, Huntington's disease, and cystic fibrosis; endocrine disorders such as acromegaly; nutrional disorders such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies; therapeutic drug addiction and toxicities; various poisonings such as plant intoxications and rattlesnake envenomation; cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarctions and cerebrovascular accidents; neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease; allergies; and autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes mellitus. Many of the readings are relatively nontechnical case histories, but the biology underlying each condition is thoroughly developed. This course is of interest to those focusing on a career in the health professions, but is also designed to provide liberal arts students with some degree of medical literacy in these health issues. The laboratory portion introduces students to human physiology as it relates to disease.

Prerequisites: experience in high school biology and chemistry.

Website: http://biology.bard.edu/ferguson/course/bio114/

In this course, students will use insects and other arthropods to explore biological topics. These topics will range from how bugs are put together, to how bugs reproduce and grow, to how bugs interact with their biological environment to do things like find food, catch prey, avoid predators, and compete for mates. Along the way we will also discuss how insects contribute to our understanding of broader topics, such as genetics, evolution, and disease. The course includes a laboratory and one weekend field trip.

Prerequisite: successful completion of Q exam, and experience in high school biology and chemistry. 

Designed to acquaint the interested nonscience student with the plants and animals that make the Bard campus their home, including trees and shrubs in their winter condition and fall wildflowers.  Animal tracks and bird migrations also are objects of study. Although the course includes some lab work on preserved specimens, especially during severe weather, most class meetings are field trips. Participants must have clothing appropriate to the weather and terrain: good walking shoes or boots, warm clothing and rain gear. Some Saturday field trips and early morning meetings may be required. Limited to 10 students.