This 8-credit course serves as a gateway to both the biology and chemistry core curricula. The course introduces and develops fundamental concepts in chemistry while also exploring the diverse range of strategies adopted by living systems to survive in different environments. This course prepares students for further study in chemistry (Chemistry 201) and/or biology (Biology 200). Students must register for both Biology 160 and Chemistry 160 as well as a single lab section (listed under Chemistry 160L).

Did you know a tiny bird that weighs only as much as two nickels (U.S. 5-cent coins) can fly without stopping for three straight days and cover a distance equal to that from Mount Holyoke College to South America? For this class we will explore foundational biological concepts by examining the wonderful world of birds. This course will take advantage of the diverse bird communities in our own back yard and will meet outside as much as possible for labs examining topics such as biodiversity, structure and function, ecology, evolution, hypothesis testing, and observation.

Most organisms are notably unlike ourselves--a tapestry of bacteria, protozoans, algae, and, off by themselves, the plants, fungi, and animals. We will survey the whole range of organisms, especially those in the ponds and forests of our campus. Labs will start in the field, offering many opportunities for wet or muddy work. The class is addressed to students intrigued by natural history; it might be useful for students interested in further study of the environment.

How are animal bodies built to deal with living on earth? In this course we will study the function of cells, organs, and organ systems that have evolved to help animals make their way through the physical and chemical environment. In lecture and in lab, we will consider the common needs of animals -- needs such as feeding, breathing, and reproducing -- and the diverse solutions they have devised. A range of life, from unicellular organisms to animals with backbones (including mammals), will be considered.