91462

BIO 123 Sex and Gender

Felicia Keesing

. T . Th .

8:30 - 11:30 am

RKC 111 / 112

SCI

Cross-listed: Gender and Sexuality Studies; Science, Technology, & Society Why are there so many differences in the social behaviors of men and women? Why are there two sexes? Why do women get depressed more often than men but commit suicide less often? Why are women, on average, shorter than men? Why do they live longer? Students in this course, intended for nonscientists, examine the biological bases of sex and gender. They consider evidence for hypotheses that attempt to explain differences in behavior between males and females, including data from behavioral studies on both humans and other animals. The genetic and hormonal determinants of sex and gender are investigated, and the arguments for how and why sex evolved in the first place are considered, especially in light of the strong evolutionary advantages of self-cloning. No specific science or mathematics background beyond algebra is required. Class size: 20

91463

BIO 130 Field Study in Natural History

William Maple

. T . Th .

1:30 -5:00 pm

RKC 114

SCI

Cross-listed: Environmental & Urban Studies 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. Class size: 16

91464

BIO 141 Subcellular Biology w/Lab

John Ferguson

. . W . F

. . . . F

10:10 - 12:10 pm

1:30 -6:00 pm

RKC 101

RKC 112

SCI

Cross-listed: Global & Intl Studies 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: passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Diagnostic, and experience in high school biology and chemistry. Class size: 20

91721

BIO 144 Biostatistics

Philip Johns

LAB:

. . W . F

. . . Th .

11:50 1:10 pm

1:30 -4:30 pm

RKC 112

SCI

Cross-listed: Environmental & Urban Studies, Global & Intl Studies This course introduces students to the statistical methods biologists use to describe and compare data. Students will learn methods are appropriate for different types of data. Topics covered include elementary probability and statistics, characteristics of frequency distributions, hypothesis testing, contingency tests, correlation and regression analysis, different ways to compare means, nonparametric tests, and an introduction to multivariate tests. This course is intended for sophomore and junior biology majors, although it is open to students of all years. One objective of the course is to provide biology majors the statistical background they need to analyze data for their own senior research; biology students should take this course before their senior year, if possible. Notice, though, that the topics in this course are applicable to many advanced courses. Prerequisite: passing score on part I of the Mathematics Diagnostic and at least one introductory biology course. Class size: 20

92022

BIO 150 Evolution of Model Organisms

Philip Johns

LAB:

. T . Th .

. . W . .

8:30 9:50 am

1:30 -4:30 pm

RKC 101

RKC 114

SCI

This is an introductory course intended for students with a strong interest in the sciences. The goal of the course is to study the genetics and evolution of a variety of organisms. We will also examine the interplay between genetics and evolution with topics ranging from ecology to behavior to physiology to biomechanics. A major theme of the course will be to understand why biologists often use a few "model organisms" -- including dogs -- to answer questions that apply to a broader array of plants and animals. The course includes a lab and one or two field trips. Prerequisite: passing score on part I of the Mathematics Diagnostic and at least one introductory biology course. Class size: 20

91471

BIO 201A Genetics & Evolution

Michael Tibbetts

M . W . .

8:30 - 11:30 am

RKC 111 / 112

SCI

This course is an introduction to the mechanisms of inheritance and the generation of diversity within genomes. It takes a modern approach to the study of genetics in which classical ideas about genotype, phenotype and inheritance are integrated into the modern genomic understanding of the processes involved in the generation of diversity and its influence on phenotype. In addition to discussions of the molecular mechanisms involved in processes like, recombination, the generation and repair of mutations, and the relationship between genotype and phenotype, special consideration is given to population-level variation in complex traits and how this understanding can be used to: examine population structure, identify genes associated with complex traits, and examine evolutionary trends and mechanisms. The laboratory consists of a semester long project involving the analysis of a model organisms genome to address one or more topics in the course. This is a writing intensive course. The general goals are to help: with the development, composition, organization, and revision of analytical and exploratory prose; with the use evidence to support an argument; with strategies of interpretation and analysis of texts; and with methods of presenting and describing scientific data. Offered every fall, this course is a pre-requisite for BIO 202A, which is offered every spring. Prerequisites: One semester of college-level biology. Class size: 20

91682

BIO 202B Ecology and Evolution

Bruce Robertson

. . W . .

. . . . F

8:30 - 11:30 am

9:30 - 11:30 am

RKC 114 / 115

SCI

Cross-listed: Environmental & Urban Studies This core course for biology majors is an introduction to the general principles of ecology and evolution that, with genetics, form the core of biological understanding. In addition to studying foundational ideas in both ecology and evolution, we will explore modern topics at the boundary between these two areas. We will consider, for example, how genetic variation among individual organisms can influence ecological interactions, and how these interactions can influence fitness. We will focus on a mechanistic understanding of processes, using model-building to inform that understanding. Prerequisite: One biology course at the 140 level or higher. Class size: 20

91466

BIO 208 Biology Seminar

Michael Tibbetts

. . . Th .

12:00 -1:00 pm

RKC 103

1 credit This course will provide students with broad exposure to biology through the biology visiting speaker seminar series. Students will hear about the wide-ranging research interests of invited biologists and have opportunities to interact informally with them. The course is graded Pass/Fail and students are responsible for short follow-up assignments for at least 80% of the talks. Recommended for all biology majors and other interested students.

Class size: 60

91467

BIO 301 Biochemistry

John Ferguson

Lab:

. T . Th .

. T . . .

8:00 -9:50 am

1:30 -6:00 pm

RKC 102

RKC 112

SCI

Cross-listed: Mind, Brain & Behavior 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, Chemistry 201-202. Class size: 16

91468

BIO 303 Microbiology w/Lab

Brooke Jude

. . W . F

. . W . .

8:30 -9:50 am

1:30 -4:30 pm

RKC 102 / 112

RKC 112

SCI

This course is designed to investigate the principles of microbiology that make microbes unique. A systems based approach is taken, examining such topics as microbial cell structure and function, bacterial motility and chemotaxis, secretion systems, biofilm formation, quorum sensing and antibiotic resistance. The course examines primarily bacterial species, however a limited amount of time is devoted to the biology of eukaryotic microbes. The laboratory portion of the course is a semester long, inquiry based, team project that involves examination of local microbial populations using culture, molecular and biochemical approaches. The class will require lab work to be completed outside of the class times. Students will analyze primary literature and produce peer reviewed research manuscripts. This course is appropriate for both those interested in a career in the health professions and those interested in ecology. Class size: 16

91469

BIO 306 Vertebrate Zoology

William Maple

Lab:

. T . Th

. . . . F.

10:10 - 11:30 am

1:30 -4:30 pm

RKC 101

RKC 114

SCI

Cross-listed: Environmental & Urban Studies The course 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 101 and 102, Upper College standing, permission of the instructor; Biology 305 recommended. Class size: 16

91473

BIO 411 Cancer Biology

Michael Tibbetts

. . . Th .

4:40 -7:40 pm

RKC 200

SCI

2 credits 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. Class size: 15

91470

BIO 414 Virology

Brooke Jude

M . . . .

3:10 -5:10 pm

RKC 115

SCI

2 credits This course will utilize inquiry based learning approaches to examine the molecular biology and genetics of viruses, as well as host response to and defense of viral infections. Lecture material will include coverage of viral structure and assembly, host specificity, and molecular mechanisms of viral cellular entry, mRNA production, and genome replication. Additional topics will include prion diseases and viral gene therapy techniques. A weekly discussion section and student presentations of the primary literature will be conducted to introduce students to classic virology studies in direct comparison to the most current laboratory techniques and assays. Students will read and analyze topically relevant primary, secondary, and some historical literature, as well as participate in group-work, give oral presentations, and produce original writing on the topic. This is a writing intensive course. The general goals are to help: with the development, composition, organization, and revision of analytical and exploratory prose; with the use evidence to support an argument; with strategies of interpretation and analysis of texts; and with methods of presenting and describing scientific data. Prerequisites: BIO201 is required. CHEM201/ 202, BIO302, and BIO303 are helpful, but not essential. Class size: 15