An integrative approach to the science of life for science and engineering students. Macromolecular structure and function. Cell structure, reproduction, metabolism, and energy production. Genomes, replication, gene structure, RNA, and protein synthesis. Students who have completed BSCI 1100 or 1105 will forfeit full credit for 1100 or three hours of credit for 1105 upon completion of this course. 3 credit hours.  Prerequisite or corequisite: CHEM 1601. 

Continuation of BSCI 1510. Cell communication. Physiology, organ function and development. Mendelian and population genetics. Evolution, ecology, and speciation. Populations, ecosystems, and conservation biology. Students who have completed BSCI 1100 or 1105 will forfeit full credit for BSCI 1100 or three hours of credit for BSCI 1105 upon completion of this course. 3 credit hours.  Prerequisite: BSCI 1510.

Laboratory to accompany BSCI 1510. One three-hour laboratory per week. Satisfies the AXLE lab course requirement when completed with BSCI 1510.  Students who have completed BSCI 1100L or BSCI 1105 will forfeit full credit for BSCI 1100L or one hour of credit for BSCI 1105 upon completion of this course. 1 credit hour (no AXLE credit). Prerequisite or corequisite:  BSCI 1510. 

Laboratory to accompany BSCI 1511. One three-hour laboratory per week. Satisfies the AXLE lab course requirement when completed with BSCI 1511.  Students who have completed BSCI 1100L or BSCI 1105 will forfeit full credit for BSCI 1100L or one hour of credit for BSCI 1105 upon completion of this course. 1 credit hour (no AXLE credit). Prerequisite or corequisite:  BSCI 1511. 

Alternative to BSCI 1511L.  Directed research projects with emphasis on experimental design and analysis. Offered on a graded basis only. No credit for students who have completed BSCI 1511L.  Satisfies the AXLE lab course requirement when completed with BSCI 1511. Students who have completed BSCI 1100L or 1105 will forfeit full credit for BSCI 1100L or one hour of credit for BSCI 1105 upon completion of this course. 2 credit hours (no AXLE credit). Prerequisite or corequisite: BSCI 1511. Prerequisite: BSCI 1510L. 

(Previously listed as MHS 3101, NURS 3101) Structure and function of the human organism. Integration of the gross anatomical structures and organ systems with microscopic structure, physiological function, and homeostatic mechanisms. Clinical relevance of selected topics. Not open to students who have completed NURS 3101 or MHS 3101. Prerequisite: 1510; Prerequisite or corequisite: 1511.

Genetics, cell biology, physiology, and diversity of microorganisms; their role in research and impact on human health and the environment. Prerequisite: 1511. No credit for students who have earned credit for BSCI 3234.

Structure and function of cells, subcellular organelles, and macromolecules. Fundamentals of organelle function, membrane transport, energy production and utilization, cell motility, cell division, intracellular transport and mechanisms of signal transduction. 3 credit hours. Required for the MCB major. Prerequisite: BSCI 1510.

One three-hour laboratory and discussion period per week. 1 credit hour (no AXLE credit). Satisfies the AXLE lab course requirement when completed with BSCI 2201. Prerequisite or corequisite: BSCI 2201. 

Evolutionary theory, with emphasis on evolutionary mechanisms. Microevolutionary processes of adaptation and speciation and macro-evolutionary patterns. Evidence from genetics, ecology, molecular biology, and paleontology in the historical context of the neo-Darwinian synthesis. 3 credit hours. Required for the BioSci and EEOB majors. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Basic principles and mechanisms of inheritance discussed and related to other biological phenomena and problems. 3 credit hours.  Required for the BioSci, EEOB, and MCB majors. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

One three-hour laboratory and discussion period per week. 1 credit hour (no AXLE credit). Satisfies the AXLE lab course requirement when completed with BSCI 2210.  Prerequisite or corequisite: BSCI 2210. 

Diversity of plants within the framework of their evolution and environmental adaptations. Biomes from the tropical rain forest to the Vanderbilt arboretum. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. 4 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

A structural and functional study of the major animal groups. The problems presented to animals by their environments, and the anatomical and physiological mechanisms by which they adapt. Three lectures and one laboratory period per week. 4 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Population biology, evolutionary ecology, community structure, with emphasis on species interactions, including competition, predation, and symbiosis. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite:  BSCI 1511. 

One three-hour laboratory and discussion period or field trip per week.  1 credit hour (no AXLE credit). Satisfies the AXLE lab course requirement when completed with BSCI 2238. Prerequisite or corequisite:  BSCI 2238. 

Structure and mechanism of action of biological molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. Enzymology. Carbohydrate metabolism. 3 credit hours. Required for the MCB major. Prerequisite: Either BSCI 1510 or CHBE 2150 and either CHEM 2211 or 2221. 

Structure and function of the human organism. Integration of the gross anatomical structures and organ systems with microscopic structure, physiological function, and homeostatic mechanisms. Clinical relevance of selected topics. Not open to students who have completed NURS 3102 or MHS 3102. Prerequisite: 2101.

The molecular and cellular basis of immunity. Emphasis on molecular structure, the genetic origin of diversity in B-cell and T-cell receptors, antigen presentation, and the cellular interactions leading to the immune response. Tolerance, tumor and transplantation immunity, autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases, and allergy. 3 credit hours. Prerequisites: BSCI 2201 or 2210. 

May session; two weeks on campus followed by two weeks in Australia. Origins, threats to, and conservation of populations and species. 3 credit hours. 

Study of innate mechanisms for measurement of time in living organisms. Emphasis on the functional significance and physiological basis of biological clocks in animals and humans. Topics include circadian rhythms, time-compensated celestial navigation, photoperiodism, and the role of biological clocks in human behavior. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Impacts of climate change on biological and ecological systems from the Paleozoic era to today. Inter-play of earth's systems, climate, and biological innovations. Effects on our natural resources, and consequences for our health. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: 1511. 

Ecological, evolutionary, social, and economic aspects of biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruption due to human activities. Climate change, habitat fragmentation, species overexploitation, and invasive species. Sustainable development, habitat restoration, and species reintroduction. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511.

Microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and mobile genetic elements. The origins and universality of microbial life, modes of genome evolution, symbioses between microbes and animals, biotechnology, and human microbiome. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Biology and epidemiology of eukaryotic parasites of medical and veterinary significance. Diagnosis, treatment, and control of parasitic protists, platyhelminthes, nematodes, and arthropods. Impact on global health. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Theoretical and empirical research on the evolution of behavior. Evolutionary approaches to the study of animal behavior, including the role of behavior in foraging, competition, predator-prey interactions, and sociality. Behavioral adaptations and their roles in sexual selection, mating systems, and animal communication. 3 credit hours. Prerequisites: 1511 and 2205. 

Current understanding of diseases. Genetic, molecular, and cellular biological basis of disease. Connection between basic sciences and disease insights. Focus on obesity, aging, cancer, neurodegeneration, infections, and biomedical technology. 3 credit hours. 

The theory of evolution at the molecular level. The evolution of DNA and RNA sequences, proteins, and genome structures will be studied using models from population genetics and comparative approaches. Molecular clocks, the evolution of gene regulation and globin genes, molecular phylogeny, and human evolution. 3 credit hours. Prerequisites: BSCI 2210 and 2205. 

Structure and function of nerve cells. Emphasis on electrical excitability, synaptic transmission, and sensory transduction. Cellular mechanisms underlying simple behaviors, sensory information processing, and learning and memory. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Nerve cell interactions in neuronal networks of the central nervous system of animals and their impact for regulating behavior. Sensory systems, sensory-motor integration, central processing of information, neuronal-hormonal interactions; and brain anatomy and organization in invertebrates and vertebrates. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Molecules of neural wiring, involving cell identity, pathfinding, synaptogenesis. Molecules of nerve cell communication, with relationship to drugs of addiction and abuse. Molecules of nervous system plasticity, and the mechanistic bases of learning and memory. Relation of these mechanisms to causes of human neurological diseases. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Comprehensive overview of the vertebrates. Morphology, physiology and behaviors; adaptations to specific environments, and the ecology, distribution and conservation of select groups. Key transformations leading to vertebrate diversity. Evolutionary history and relationships. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511.

An introduction to statistical methods used in the analysis of biological experiments, including the application of computer software packages.  Emphasis on testing of hypotheses and experimental design.  Topics include descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, regression, correlation, contingency analysis, and the testing of methods for sampling natural populations.  3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511.

Aims and importance of the science.  Retrieval of genome data from public databases; experimental and computational methods used in analysis of genome data and their annotation.  Functional aspects of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics; use of phylogenetics and population genomics to infer evolutionary relationships and mechanisms of genome evolution.  3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511. 

Biochemistry of the expression, transmission, and maintenance of genetic information. DNA transcription, replication, recombination, and repair. Structural mechanisms and biological functions of DNA processing proteins. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 2520. 

Principles of classical and molecular genetic analysis: mutation and recombination, mapping, and the application of genetic methodology to the study of complex systems. Special emphasis on modern genomic approaches. Taught from the primary literature. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 2210. 

Mechanisms underlying the maintenance and expression of our genomes. DNA replication, DNA repair, transciption, and RNA metabolism. Students who have completed 4265 require instructor approval to register. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: 2520

Broad coverage of the biological sciences presenting evolution as the unifying concept. Particular emphasis on basic biological processes in cells and the relationships/interactions between organisms and their environment. Topics include cell structure and function, genetics and inheritance, evolution and diversity, populations, communities and ecosystems, and topics related to biology and society. Students who take BSCI 1510 and 1511 shall not receive credit for BSCI 1100. 3 credit hours.  Corequisite: BSCI 1100L. 

Laboratory investigations of the genetics, physiology, and ecology of plants and animals. One three-hour laboratory per week to accompany BSCI 1100. Students who take BSCI 1510L, 1511L, or 1512L shall not receive credit for BSCI 1100L. Satisfies the AXLE lab course requirement when completed with BSCI 1100. 1 credit hour (no AXLE credit). Corequisite: BSCI 1100. 

One three-hour laboratory per week to accompany BSCI 1103.  1 credit hour.  Satisfies the AXLE lab course requirement when completed with BSCI 1103. Not intended for students planning to major in Biological Sciences.  Corequisite: BSCI 1103. 

Recent advances in genetics, reproduction, and biotechnology. Social, legal, and ethical implications. Three lectures and one laboratory period per week. Not intended for students majoring in Biological Sciences. Students who take BSCI 1510 and 1511 may not receive credit for BSCI 1105. 4 credit hours. 

Structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology of microorganisms. Emphasis will be on the impacts microorganisms have on human health and society. Not intended for students majoring in Biological Sciences. Not open to students who have earned credit for BSCI 2150.

Possible topics include “Genes and Society” and “Health, Planet, and Evolution.” Students learn to critique the scientific literature and to discern science from science fiction.  However, most importantly, students begin to understand the limitations of science and explore the possible impact of these scientific discoveries on the world.  3 credit hours. 

Reading and discussion of research papers with a member of the faculty.  Prerequisite: Arrangement with supervising faculty member and consent of Biological Sciences 3850 coordinator before the end of the previous semester.  May be repeated for credit one time if there is no duplication in topic.  Students may enroll in more than one section of this course each semester. One credit hour; maximum of 2 credits total for all semesters of BSCI 3850. No AXLE credit. 

Discussions and papers based on readings in research journals.  Topics vary (see YES for details of topic).  Prerequisite:  fulfillment of the intermediate course requirements for the major.  Two credit hours. May be repeated for credit more than once if there is no duplication in topic, but only two hours may count toward the major.  Students may enroll in more than one section of this course each semester. No AXLE credit. 

Literature review and work in the laboratory of a member of the Biological Sciences faculty.  Term paper required.  Consent of course coordinator and enrollment by arrangement before the end of the previous semester is required.  One credit hour. Can be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: BSCI 1510.  Prerequisite or corequisite: BSCI 1511. No AXLE credit. 

Directed student research on a project conceived by a member of the Biological Sciences faculty.  Enrollment by arrangement before the end of the previous semester.  May be taken only once, and participants are ordinarily expected to have overall grade point average of B or better.  Offered on a graded basis only.  2-4 credit hours. Prerequisite: BSCI 1511, one intermediate BSCI course appropriate to the major or BSCI 3860, and consent of the Biological Sciences BSCI 3861 coordinator. No AXLE credit. 

Original student research on a defined problem in Biological Sciences and under the supervision of Biological Sciences faculty.  Some independence in the design and execution of the problem.  Enrollment by arrangement before the end of the previous semester.  2-6 credit hours. Prerequisites:  BSCI 3861, consent of Biological Sciences BSCI 3961 coordinator, and cumulative grade point average of B.  May be repeated for credit more than once, but students may only earn up to 6 credits per semester of enrollment. No AXLE credit. 

Open only to majors in the Honors Program. 4-6 credit hours. May be repeated for credit more than once, but students may earn only up to 6 credits per semester of enrollment. No AXLE credit.