BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES CURRICULUM STUDY (BSCS) PROJECT

Introduction
The BSCS project was started in 1959 at the University of Colarado. The beginning was
made by the American Institute of Biological Sciences with financial assistance by the National
Science Foundation. The BSCS texts are the result of collaboration among the Biology teachers,
educators and scientists. This project was started to prepare high school biology courses for
students who opt for the biology as one of the subject at the school stage.

Objectives
o To present recent and latest knowledge of life sciences
o To provide current status of biological sciences
o To develop an understanding about the conceptual (theoretical) structure of biology
o To provide an opportunity to acquire skills and processes of sciences
o To provide an opportunity to use inquiry approach, both in teaching and learning
o To provide rich supplementary material to enrich learning experiences in life sciences

Versions
The BSCS was established for the improvement of biological education in all levels. So,
different versions of books have been developed to teach biological science.
1. The Blue Version (Molecules to Man)
This version approaches the study of biology from a molecular level with
emphasis upon recent advances in physiology and biochemical evolution. The text
presents a unifying approach of teaching the level of biological organization as we
assume that they have evolved from the simplest to the most complex, that is from
molecules to man.
2. The Green Version (A Ecological Approach)
This version approaches the study of biology from ecological and behavioural
aspects. A major emphasis is placed upon the biological community and the world
biome.

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 3. The Yellow Version (An Enquiry into Life)
This is concerned with the cellular level of organization and content is organized
around the concepts of biological unity, diversity, and continuity.

Unifying Themes
All the three versions have been developed on Nine Unifying Themes which have been
woven in and through every text. These nine themes were selected on the basis of two major
determining factors.
1. The procedures and conceptions that best characterize modern biological science.
2. The needs and problems of the students.

In the nine unifying themes, first five (1-5) concern with the content of the text, last two
(8, 9) concern with the logical structure of the texts, and the remaining two (5, 6) are
intermediate; they are concern with both the structure and context.
1) Change of living things through time: Evolution
2) Diversity of type and unity of pattern in living things
3) The genetic continuity of life
4) The complementarities of organisms and environment
5) The biological roots of behaviour
6) The complementarities of structure and function
7) Regulation and homeostasis: preservation of life in the face of change
8) Science as inquiry
9) The history of biological conception
The following list of major division of the versions, which will give some idea about the
difference in their approach:
Yellow Version (1973)
1. Unity
2. Diversity
3. Interaction
4. Community

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 Blue Version (1973)
1. Interaction
2. Evolution in life process
3. New life
4. Genetic continuity
Green Version (1973)
1. The world of life: The Biosphere
2. Diversity among the living things
3. Patterns in the Biosphere
4. Within the individual organism
5. Continuity of the Biosphere
6. Man and Biosphere
For academically unsuccessful students the BSCS has prepared a set of material
under the title of ‘Biological Science: Patters and Processes.

Conclusion
Each version however has its taste and thematic approach. All these BSCS materials
lay emphasis on laboratory work while develops an understanding of scientific inquiry.
Theory and practicum has been integrated. The learners get an opportunity of
appreciating the work of scientist and the contributions made by them.