Extended Essays in Biology
Choosing a Topic
Biology is the science that deals with living organisms and life processes. A biology EE should incorporate biological theory and emphasize why it is relevant today.
The topic must relates specifically to biology. Many topics can be approached from different viewpoints, but for an EE in biology the treatment of the topic must be clearly biological. For example, an EE in an interdisciplinary area such as biochemistry will, if registered under the subject of biology, be judged solely on its biological content.
Disease, for example, could be considered through many different lenses. A biology paper about diseases would focus on their impact on particular organisms or life processes, and not on medical treatment, or the economic effects of the disease on society.
Examples:
| Broad Topics | Focused Topics |
| Detergents in the environment | The effect of detergent toxicity on soil bacteria |
| Malnutrition in children | A study of malnourished children in Indonesia and the extent of their recovery after a period of supervised improved nutrition |
| The effect of acidity on plant growth | A study of the effect of differing pH levels on the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris |
| Symbiosis | The competitive and evolutionary nature of the symbiotic relationship in Paramecium bursaria |
| Factors that affect the germination of seeds | The effect of banana peel on seed germination |
| Uses of the gel electrophoresis technique | Gel electrophoresis: The construction of an apparatus and the separation of proteins in heat-treated cow’s milk |
| Research in Biology |  |
| All EEs in the sciences should begin with at least one hypothesis based on their research question. Then, a student will conduct either primary or secondary research to test their hypothesis by collecting some kind of data. By analyzing their findings a student should be able to find a scientific answer to their research question. |
Primary Research
Essays in biology may be based on data collected by the student through:
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experimentation |
survey |
microscopic observations |
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biological drawing |
fieldwork |
fieldwork |
Essays that involve lab work, or fieldwork, should include a clear and concise description of the experimental procedure. Students taking an experimental approach must also consult secondary sources.
Secondary Research
Students can base their essays on data or information obtained from literature (secondary studies). However, in this case they should use the data in an original way. Essays that simply restate facts or data taken directly from the sources are of little value.
Examples:
| Topic | Enzyme activity in soy beans | Topic | Antibacterial effects of a plant extract |
| Research Question | How does the level of enzyme activity differ between dried and fresh soy beans? | Research Question | What evidence is there for the antibacterial properties mouthwash on Streptococcus mutans bacteria grown at 20°C? |
| Approach | The enzyme is extracted from dried and fresh soy beans. Activity is measured by monitoring the pH of the solution using a suitable approach such as a pH probe or indicator. | Approach | Cultures of the bacteria are grown on agar plates. Filter paper discs soaked in various concentrations of mouthwash are placed on inoculated plates and zones of inhibition are measured after a period of incubation. |
Biology Sources
Even students doing primary research will still need to reference secondary sources. And students relying entirely on secondary sources will need to find sources not only of written information but also experimental data which they can analyze.
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In Context Databases Gale In-Context databases offer topic pages and the Topic Finder search feature. This video will show you how to use topic pages.
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Gale OneFile Databases Gale OneFile databases have two features to help you find search words as well as topics and sub-topics. Use the "subject guide search" feature in Gale OneFile databases to help you find good search terms.(tutorial video). Use the "topic finder" to help you find good topics and sub-topics (tutorial video)
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Environmental Studies and Policy
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National Science Digital Library The NSDL is an open access library of digital content relevant to all aspects of hard and applied sciences. |
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Writing the Essay
An essay in the sciences requires is more than just generating and presenting data. Analysis of the data is also essential. The main body of the essay should consist of an argument or evaluation based on the data or information presented. You can gather your own data through a variety of methods, or rely on secondary data. You should use graphs, tables, or diagrams to point out the significance of your findings.
You should ensure that the main body of the essay is well structured and has an obvious logical progression. You can use numbered and headed paragraphs to impose a clear structure. Your evaluation should show that you understand the the data they have collected and its significance to the world.
In your analysis, you should also describe and explain the limitations imposed on the research by factors such as
Students should also consider biological limitations such as:
Safety and Ethics in Choosing a Topic
In all cases where human subjects are used as the basis for an investigation, clear evidence of informed consent must be provided in accordance with the IB guidelines.
Some topics may be inadmissible because their means of investigation are unethical. For example, investigations that:
Some topics may be unsuitable because of safety issues. Adequate safety apparatus and qualified supervision is required for experiments involving dangerous substances such as:
Other topics may be unsuitable because the outcome is already well known and documented in standard textbooks.
