For most science courses, assignments are generally lab-based and rarely require much writing. However, all of that changes in biology courses when detailed essays must be written to highlight a student’s understanding of the subject. These essays are highly technical, with specific comments required to meet the factual nature of the subject.
In addition to meeting the factual requirements needed to complete the assignment, biology essays must also be written in a writing style that is informative and authoritative rather than subjective and personal.
These detailed specifics of writing a biology essay can make completing the writing difficult from the very beginning. Fortunately, we’ve created this guide to help students learn how to write a biology essay. In addition, we’ve also included 160 biology essay topics to help inspire the creative writing process.
How to Write a Biology Essay?
Writing a biology essay starts with choosing a topic. If your teacher has not already assigned a specific topic, then students must choose one that is broad enough to find credible resources and specific enough that the research won’t overtake the writing process.
To select a suitable topic for a biology essay, consider the type of biology class you are taking, the current and previous chapters studied, and the overall context of the course. These factors will help you select a topic that is likely to be relevant to your teacher’s needs and to the passing of your course.
Once students have selected a suitable topic, it’s time to research credible resources that will support the subject. To do this successfully, students need to consider the following:
- What information is already known about this topic?
- What topics are related or similar to this topic?
- Who are credible authors that can explain this topic?
- What additional sources will provide me with the information needed to complete this assignment successfully?
For example, if you want to write a biology essay on protein synthesis and its regulation at the transcriptional level, research material would include books, articles, and other written works published by credible authors or publishers. While important, this material isn’t the only type of research that should be completed.
Students may also consider consulting medical and biology dictionaries, textbooks, online research databases such as PubMed or Medline, and professional organizations for biologists to find additional sources. Once the research has been completed, it’s time to create the first draft of the biology essay.
Biology Essay Introduction
Starting an essay is always the same. Students should open with a catchy hook statement that introduces an interesting fact, presents a unique perspective, or raises a thought-provoking question.
Once that sentence has been created, students can use the middle part of the introduction to introduce fundamental concepts and provide background details about the topic.
Once that information has been laid out, and the reader knows the necessary details to make the reading interesting and worthwhile, students should move into the final portion of the introduction that answers the question: WHY is this essay important? This question is answered in the form of a thesis statement that details the essay’s overall purpose.
Biology Essay Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs of your essay will contain the bulk of your research. Be sure that each body paragraph meets the following requirements:
- One clear idea represented per paragraph or section
- Examples that back up the point of the paragraph
- A clear and logical flow between paragraphs with transition words
Make sure that the body paragraphs only contain information pertinent to the subject or topic. Avoid fluff or filler words and phrases that don’t add any substance or value to the writing.
The number of paragraphs in the body may vary depending on the assignment parameters and the essay style. For example, an essay with a 1000 word limit won’t have as many body paragraphs as an essay with a high word count.
Additionally, a compare and contrast essay that examines the similarities and differences between two or more biology concepts may have more body paragraphs than an argumentative essay.
Biology Essay Conclusion
The final section of a biology essay is the conclusion. In this section, students need to summarize the major points of the essay and the overall purpose for writing it. The thesis should also be re-stated to recap what has been learned from the writing.
In addition to these sentences, students should include a final remark about their research and findings. This might be a thought that ties into the intro or another interesting angle that presents a new way of looking at your topic.
Once the conclusion is completed, students should edit and review their work. Make sure that the essay is free of grammar and spelling mistakes before submitting it for grading.
160 Biology Essay Topics
When it comes to choosing a biology essay topic, it is not always as easy as it seems. For students looking for help with writing a biology essay, we have compiled a list of 160 biology essay topics that will hopefully give you some great ideas.
Biology Essay Topics About Animals
- What is the importance of bats in our ecosystem?
- What is the difference between a domesticated cat and a wildcat?
- How do animals adapt to their environments?
- What are the various types of symbiotic relationships found in nature?
- Which animals have been known to show altruism towards other species?
- What impact does human activity have on animal behavior?
- What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of zoos?
- How do animal brains work?
- What is an animal’s anatomical structure like?
- What are some symbiotic relationships between humans and animals?
- What is the difference between herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and insectivores?
- Why are having pets important to humans?
- What are the positive and negative impacts of commercial farming on animals?
- Do you think it is acceptable to keep pets in zoos? Why or why not?
- What are some common misconceptions about cats, dogs, rodents, cows, sheep, horses, reptiles/fish/insects?
- How do animal bones support their body structure?
- What are the effects of humans on the natural habitats of animals?
- What are some ways in which animal anatomy is similar to human biology?
- What are some symbiotic relationships found in the animal kingdom?
- Can humans and animals communicate with each other?
- How do different types of animal cells function differently than human cells?
- Why do some animals see better in the dark?
- Explain the circulatory system of cold-blooded animals and how it differs from that of warm-blooded animals.
- What are some examples of mimicry in nature?
Biology Essay Topics About Cellular Biology
- How does cell theory apply to cellular biology?
- What is mitosis, and where does it take place?
- What are the different parts of a cell?
- What is a nucleolus?
- What are the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
- How do viruses affect our cells?
- How does photosynthesis work?
- Why is it important to study cellular biology as a foundation for other disciplines of biology?
- What are the functions of organelles in cells?
- What is anabolism and catabolism?
- How do plants use photosynthesis to produce sugar while animals break down food for energy?
- Describe the process of homeostasis and explain how the human body maintains its internal environment.
- What are the important parts of a cell?
- How do cells reproduce?
- What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?
- What is the importance of cellular research to humans?
- Explain mitochondria, chloroplasts, and vacuoles in plant cells.
- What are some of the problems with using stem cells in medical research?
- What are the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms?
- How do humans reproduce sexually?
- Why is it different to clone plants than animals?
- What are some important functions of membranes in cells?
- What is the significance of mass spectrometry to molecular biology and genetics?
- How do viruses reproduce?
- What are mitochondria responsible for in eukaryotic cells?
- What is the difference between a plasmid and a virus?
- Do you think cloning animals should be allowed? Why or why not?
- What is a cell cycle?
- How do diseases affect the structure and function of cells?
- What are some ethical issues with genetic engineering?
- What is cell division, and how does it work?
- Where does meiosis occur in the body, and what does it accomplish?
- Explain the structure and function of ribosomes in eukaryotic cells.
- What is a cell membrane made up of, and what are its important structural components?
- How do antibiotics affect bacterial cells?
- Do you think cloning humans should be allowed? Why or why not?
- What makes up the cytoskeleton?
- How are molecular structures related to the functions of cells?
- What are some examples of biomolecules necessary for cell function and survival?
- What types of molecules make up an organism’s genome?
Biology Essay Topics About the Ecosystem
- What does the term food web mean?
- Why is it important to study population dynamics in an ecosystem?
- How do humans affect other species and their environments?
- How can we prevent and control invasive species, and why are they so dangerous?
- What effects does pollution have on animals and their habitats?
- How do global warming and climate change affect the ecosystem?
- What are the different types of animals found in ecosystems?
- What happens to an ecosystem when one species becomes extinct?
- What is the difference between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem?
- How do humans feed off other species to survive?
- Describe how the r-selected life strategy works.
- What are some examples of symbiosis found in nature?
- How does biodiversity affect the structure, function, and survival of ecosystems?
- How does the stability of an ecosystem depend on biodiversity?
- What are trophic levels, and how do they function to maintain the structure of ecosystems?
- Why are invasive species dangerous?
- How do global climate changes and human activities affect the biodiversity of ecosystems?
- What types of organisms thrive in wetlands?
- How do humans benefit from studying ecosystems?
- What ecosystems are best suited to rapid climate change?
Biology Essay Topics About Evolution
- Is evolution strictly a scientific theory, or is it also valid spiritually?
- Why is research about the evolution of life important to our understanding of the past?
- What are some examples of convergent evolution?
- How does natural selection contribute to evolution?
- Why is it important for people to understand evolution and its role in biology?
- What are some benefits that humans enjoy thanks to evolution?
- How do mass extinctions impact the evolution of different species?
- How does a mutation affect a population’s gene pool and diversity?
- Explain the core principles of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
- How does an organism’s ability to respond to environmental changes contribute to its rate of evolution?
- What is polyphyletic evolution?
- What are some examples of vestigial traits in humans and other species?
- How do eco-evolutionary dynamics play a role in evolution?
- Do you think that past mass extinction events had an impact on evolution? Why or why not?
- What are some benefits humans enjoy thanks to evolution by natural selection?
- How could modern-day diets affect the evolutionary growth of humans?
- What animals have had evolutionary changes based on threats to their diets?
- What evolutionary response makes for the best camouflage?
- What types of traits can be used to differentiate between closely related species?
- What are the main factors that prevent a population from evolving?
- How is artificial selection different from natural selection?
- Why do scientists still debate about evolutionary theory despite overwhelming evidence supporting it?
- What are some examples of convergent evolution in nature, and how do they function as an adaptation?
- Why is research about the evolution of life important to understanding the past?
Biology Essay Topics About Genetics
- What is genetic drift, and how can it lead to changes in a population over time?
- How do the different parts of DNA interact with each other?
- How are dominant and recessive traits identified?
- What are some examples of genetic disorders?
- What causes Down syndrome, and how is it diagnosed in children?
- How does natural selection act on mutations to create variation in a population?
- Can scientists use DNA testing to learn about our ancestors’ migratory patterns and where they lived?
- How can animal migration help us to better understand genetics?
- Define molecular genetics and explain how it relates to classical and Mendelian genetics.
- What is the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and why is it important in population genetics?
- Do you believe that scientists should clone human beings? Why or why not?
- Why are dominant traits sometimes called masking genes?
- Why is genetic diversity important for long-term species survival?
- How are epigenetic changes related to evolution?
- What is the difference between gene expression and gene activity with regards to genetics?
- How do developmental genes affect the appearance of an organism throughout its life cycle?
- How have animal and plant breeders used genetic engineering to produce certain types of hybrids?
- What are the ethical implications of human cloning?
- What are the latest technologies in genetic engineering?
- What new technologies are needed to make human cloning a reality?
- How are living organisms adapting to the presence of plastics in our environment?
- Why are some individuals resistant to certain genetically programmed diseases?
- What are three common misconceptions about genetic engineering?
- What is transgenic technology, and how can it be used for disease prevention or treatment?
- How do microorganisms impact human health and the environment?
- What are some examples of a genetically modified organism?
- How does natural selection impact microorganisms?
- What is DNA profiling, and how can it help to solve crimes or return missing persons to their families?
- Why do scientists need more research surrounding epigenetics before drawing conclusions on its effects on evolution?
Biology Essay Topics About the Human Body
- What is the purpose of skeletal and respiratory systems?
- How do hormones affect our body on a daily basis?
- How does the endocrine system work as part of an overall regulatory system in the human body?
- What are some different types of cells found in the human body?
- What are the differences between exocrine and endocrine glands?
- What are stem cells, and why are they important to biological research?
- How do muscles work together to create movement in our bodies?
- How do bones help us to maintain balance while walking, standing up straight, and running?
- What are some ways that human behavior can impact our bodies?
- How do foods with high sugar content affect the digestive system?
- What organs are no longer necessary in the human body, and why?
- What blood types offer better protection from the elements?
- What are mosquitoes attracted to some humans and not to others?
- What pheromones do humans give off?
- What are the different types of blood cells?
- How does healthy eating help to maintain digestive health?
- Why do some people get migraines that others don’t seem to be bothered by?
- What is the pH level of human blood, and how can it be carefully regulated?
- How does altitude affect respiration in humans?
- What is the most complicated system in the human body?
- Explain the biological purposes of “Fight or Flight.”
- What role does the immune system play in human health?
- What is the difference between human anatomy and physiology?
Choosing any of these 160 biology essay topics will help students craft an informative and authoritative essay that is sure to earn them a passing grade.
