essay for biology

Tips on How to Write a Biology Essay: Learn from the Example of Jellyfish Essay

In this article, we will guide you on how to write a perfect biology essay from scratch. You’ll find various tips to help you excel in writing your essay and creating a paper worth the highest grades. We also prepared a jellyfish essay example for you, so it can be easier to enhance all the specifics and structure of this kind of paper.

What is Biology Essay?

A biology essay is a student-written work where you present arguments and ideas about a particular biological topic. The essay on biology can take different forms like argumentative, cause-and-effect, descriptive, detailed analysis, or ‘how-to’ instruction, depending on the professor’s guidelines and writer’s preferences. 

A descriptive paper can explain a biological subject, while an argumentative one provides evidence to support a point of view. It’s up to you to choose which type is more suitable for the topic you’re writing about. The most common type is a cause-and-effect essay explaining an event’s reasons and consequences. 

How to Craft a Perfect Essay About Biology?

Writing is an art form that requires time and effort. But if you prefer someone else to write the paper for you, you can just text the experts, ‘ do my homework for me ,’ and consider it done. 

Here is the step by step instruction to organize the process for desired results. 

Choose Your Biology Essay Topic

To get a good grade:

• Make your paper informative and enjoyable by choosing a topic you wish to explore. 
• Use a brainstorming technique to generate 30-50 options for biology essay topics and research to create a shortlist. 
• Keep a notebook to jot down your ideas.

Choose a Question for Research

When writing a biology essay, use a scientific approach by selecting a research question related to your topic. Always avoid overly complex or apparent questions. You can also text our profs ‘ pay for a research paper ,’ and it can be done in a blink.

Create an Outline

Always have a clear plan when writing biology essays while starting a paper. Use a 5-paragraph structure with an outline to keep your main idea and arguments organized. Use any format that works best for you and adjust as needed. Discard any ideas that don’t fit your research question.

Use a Strong Thesis Statement

The introduction should end with a strong thesis statement synthesizing the overall essay, conveying the research question and your point of view. The paper is ineffective without a clear thesis, as readers may not understand your position.

Use Citation and References

Include a list of references in your academic papers, such as biology essays, to avoid plagiarism and provide data sources. Use the appropriate citation style, like APA or CSE, and consult a guide for requirements.

How to Structure a Biology Essay?

Ensure your essay has an attention-grabbing introduction, a detailed body, and a solid conclusion with distinct sections. Use around seven paragraphs for the main body, adjusting as needed for the required word count.

Introduction

In the introduction of your essay about biology, showcase your expertise by providing a brief background of the topic and stating the essay’s objective. For a research paper, explain why the study is relevant. Make sure the reader understands the essence of your subject.

The body section of your essay on biology should focus on supporting and defending your thesis statement. To achieve this, make a list of essential points to cover and address each one step by step. Starting a new paragraph for each point ensures neatness and a continuous flow. 

In conclusion, restate your thesis statement and summarize supporting points to solidify your arguments. Avoid introducing new concepts, and leave a lasting impression on your instructor.

Jellyfish Essay - Example of a Biology Essay About a Fascinating Creature of the Ocean

Jellyfish, also known as jellies, are incredible creatures of the ocean. They’re members of the phylum Cnidaria, including corals and sea anemones. You can find jellyfish in every ocean around the globe, from the surface to the depths of the sea. 

Do you know what shape the jellyfish body has?! It’s one of their most unique features. Their bell-shaped body comprises a soft, jelly-like substance called mesoglea, found between two cellular layers. The outer layer of cells, the epidermis, is thin and flexible, while the inner layer, the gastrodermis, contains the jellyfish’s digestive system. At the bottom of the bell is the mouth, surrounded by tentacles armed with stinging cells called nematocysts. 

The jellyfish tentacles consist of venom-filled sacs, which can be potentially dangerous and life-threatening. Considering the severity of its sting, researchers have gathered information on how to treat it effectively. Use thick clothing, tweezers, sticks, or gloves to alleviate the sting. It’s crucial to avoid touching the sting with bare skin since the venom can cause severe harm. Always dispose of the tool used for removing the sting to prevent re-stinging. 

Jellyfish are creatures that feed on small fish and other tiny marine organisms. They capture their prey using the tentacles and bring it to their mouth. Once the food is inside the jellyfish, it’s broken down by digestive enzymes and absorbed into the gastrovascular cavity. 

An exciting thing about jelly is its life cycle. They go through several stages of development, starting as a tiny, free-swimming larva and then growing into a polyp. The polyp stage is stationary, and the jellyfish attaches itself to a surface using a sticky pad. During this stage, the jellyfish reproduces asexually, creating clones of itself. These clones then break off from the polyp and develop into the familiar bell-shaped body of the adult jellyfish. 

Jellyfish play an essential role in the ocean’s ecosystem too. They’re a food source for many marine creatures, including sea turtles and some fish species. They also help to control the population of tiny marine animals by feeding on them, and their waste products contribute to the nutrient cycle in the ocean.

However, jellyfish populations can sometimes explode and become a nuisance. This phenomenon mostly occurs when their natural predators are eliminated from the ecosystem or when water conditions, like temperature and salinity, are conducive for jellyfish growth. In cases where jellyfish populations reach excessive levels, they can clog fishing nets and interfere with other human activities in the ocean.

Jellyfish really are stunning creatures of the ocean. They’re diverse, with many different species, and are essential to the marine ecosystem. While they can sometimes become a nuisance, they’re vital to the ocean’s food web and nutrient cycle. Studying jellyfish can give us a greater understanding of the complex and interconnected systems that make up our oceans.

Practical Tips for Creating Perfect Academic Papers

Developing writing skills is crucial for your academic success regardless of your major. Check out these tips we provided for improving your writing. But if you aren't fond of writing, you can easily hand it to professionals by saying, ‘ do homework for me .’

Search for Samples or Examples

To improve your writing, analyze examples of well-written biology essays or research papers. Although not all online samples are perfect, they can still provide insights into what works and what doesn’t. However, avoid plagiarism and ensure your paper is original by presenting fresh ideas and a unique perspective. 

Read Whenever You Can

Develop your writing skills by reading widely and extensively. Look for biology papers in scientific journals, websites, or books. Don’t forget to take notes on interesting points that you can use in your papers later.

Practice Makes Perfect

Don’t expect to write a perfect paper on your first try, so take every opportunity to practice your writing. Find a mentor if needed and use online resources to learn from your mistakes and improve your skills.

Always Organize Your Writing Process

Organize your work process instead of waiting for inspiration by defining stages, scheduling time for each task, and eliminating distractions. Don’t wait for mood to write an essay about biology; use different strategies to overcome writer’s block.

Proofread and Get Other Feedback

It’s hard to assess your own work accurately. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to identify strengths and weaknesses to improve upon. Don’t wait for your professor’s feedback to know if your biology essay is good. 

Interesting Biology Essay Topics from Our Experts to Practice Your Writing

In this paragraph, we listed different biology essay topics from which you can choose your preferred one and practice writing to excel in your academic papers.

• A jellyfish - my favorite creature
• Facts about animal behavior
• Biodiversity conservation
• Chemical Ecology
• Impacts of air pollution
• Acid Rain’s impact on wildlife
• The greenhouse effect
• Causes of global warming
• Effects of climate change on nature
• Ways to avoid water pollution

These are interesting topics and also some of the most significant environmental problems. Choose the one you like and practice.

Final Thoughts

This article provides tips that will definitely make your writing process easier and more effective. Adjust these tips while writing your biology paper and structure it as we did in the jellyfish essay example. But if you still prefer a professional to do it for you, contact us by writing ‘ do my research paper ,’ and our experts will handle it.

Ryan Acton is an essay-writing expert with a Ph.D. in Sociology, specializing in sociological research and historical analysis. By partnering with EssayHub, he provides comprehensive support to students, helping them craft well-informed essays across a variety of topics.

• Plagiarism Report
• Unlimited Revisions
• 24/7 Support

Free Biology Essay Examples & Writing Tips

Don’t know what to write about in your essay on biology? Looking for good biology essay examples for inspiration? This article has all you need!

A biology essay is a type of academic paper that focuses on a particular topic of biology. It can discuss animal life, cycles in biology, or a botanic subject. You will need to demonstrate your critical thinking skills and provide relevant evidence to support your perspective.

On this page, you will find examples of biology essays. You will also find here tips and topics prepared by our experts . They can assist you in nailing your short or extended essay.

Areas of Research for Biology Essays

If you’ve been assigned to write a biology essay, you probably know which area of research you have to choose. However, it might be beneficial to explore other available scopes. It’s useful for both interdisciplinary study and the cases when you are free to pick your area of research. In this section, let’s figure out what you can study in biology.

Here are biological areas of research you should be familiar with:

• Cancer Biology studies this type of disease to prevent, detect, diagnose and cure it. The ultimate goal of such biologists is to eliminate cancer.
• Cell Biology is a branch that studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells. Here, biologists study healthy and sick cells to produce vaccines, medication, etc.
• Biochemistry is an application of chemistry to the study of biological processes on cell and molecular levels. It is a cross-discipline between chemistry and biology. The focus is on the chemical processes of living organisms.
• Computation Biology is a study of biological data that develops algorithms and models to understand biological systems. Here, scientists either work for institutions or research for private enterprises.
• Genetics is an area that focuses on the study of genes and genetic variations for health benefits. It looks at the way DNA affects certain diseases.
• Human Disease is an area within which scientists study different diseases. The field covers cancer, developmental disorders, disease genes, etc.
• Immunology is a branch of biology that focuses on immunity. Immunologists look at the way the body responds to viruses as a way to protect the organism.
• Microbiology studies all living organisms that are too small for our eye to see. It includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms.
• Neurobiology is the study of the nervous system. Biologists examine the way the brain works and look into brain illnesses.
• Stem Cell and Developmental Biology seeks to examine how the processes behind stem cell’s ability transform cells. The biologists in this area use the power of stem cells to model human illnesses.

Essay on Biology: Writing Tips

Want to know how to start a biology essay? Wondering about the best way to write your essay on biology? Then check out the following tips.

When you’re writing about biology, pay attention to the following features:

• Introduction . Just as in any other form of academic writing, the first section of your paper introduces the subject. Here, explain why your ideas are relevant to biology as a science.
• Thesis Statement. The final one or two sentences of the first paragraph should include your original hypothesis and experiment. You will be proving them in the main body. You do not have to include the results as the reader will encounter them later. If you’re struggling with this part, try our thesis generator .
• Main Body. In this part, write about all the experiments in detail. Often, teachers require to include visual aid to prove your point. For Zoology, Anatomy, Botany, it is pretty easy to find some photos and illustrations.
• Conclusion. Here, restate your thesis. Reemphasize the most critical aspects described in the main body. You can do it by using our summarizing tool . The goal of this last paragraph is to leave an everlasting impression on the reader.

Thank you for reading our article. We hope you found it helpful. Share it with your class peers who also study biology. Additionally, have a look at the biological essay examples below.

741 Best Essay Examples on Biology

Grass and its importance, the benefits of animals to humans essay.

• Words: 1166

The Effect of Temperature on Amylase Activity

• Words: 1293

Ubiquity of Microorganisms

• Words: 2210

Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological System Theory

• Words: 1827

Anaerobic Respiration and Its Applications

• Words: 1274

Biology of Grasses: Description and Importance

Strawberries history.

• Words: 1484

Browning Reactions Explained

Effects of vinegar on the germination rate of mung beans seeds.

• Words: 1750

Biology: Analysis of Egg Experiment

Similarities and differences of photosynthesis and cellular respiration, botany and taxonomy of the onion.

• Words: 2414

Lemon, Its Origin and Production

• Words: 1115

Dark or Light Skin: Advantages and Disadvantages

Mung seed germination patterns under varying ph values, seed germination experiment: results and discussion, mitosis and meiosis in onion root tip.

• Words: 1691

Non-trophic Interaction in Marine Species

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells: key differences, osmosis through a potato slice dipped in solutions of varying concentrations.

• Words: 1075

Mitosis in Onion Root and Whitefish Blastula

Membrane hands-on laboratory report.

• Words: 1176

Corn Plant’s Developmental Stages

Responsible house plant keeping.

• Words: 2262

Marine Life in United Arab Emirates

• Words: 1474

Basic and Applied Biology: Key Differences

A brief discussion of animal and plant cells, the c-fern plant laboratory experiment.

• Words: 1101

Cell Organelles, Their Functions, and Disease

• Words: 1195

Different Ecosystems and Living Things

The insect effect on human life, pets and people, a light microscope: function and usage, the genus rosa’s adaptation to the environment.

• Words: 1144

Consequences of Orange Juice on the Germination of Mung Bean Seeds

Characteristics of adult development.

• Words: 1311

Transpiration Process in Plants

Archaea and bacteria prokaryotes dichotomous keys, description of mitosis and meiosis, understanding the effects of quantity of light on plants growth.

• Words: 1089

The Function and Structures of the Human Heart

Dugesia, a planarian with its peculiar characteristics.

• Words: 3207

“The Egg and the Sperm” by Emily Martin Critique

• Words: 2577

A Lab Report for Microbiology Class

Nanobiotechnology, its advantages and disadvantages, what enzymes are and how do they work, soil impact on the growth of plants.

• Words: 1227

Importance of the Brain in Human Body

The characteristics and importance of nervous system.

• Words: 1705

The Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System of a Rat

• Words: 1612

Biology: Photosynthesis and Respiration

The digestive system in the human body, vitamin a: description and usage, cell membrane permeability, bioremediation technology.

• Words: 1604

The Human Cloning Debates

• Words: 1197

Forensic Procedures: Hairs and Fibres

• Words: 2067

The Effect of Habitat Disturbance on Invertebrate Abundance and Diversity

• Words: 1282

Is Earthworm Beneficial or Harmful to Humans?

Biology lab report: biodiversity study of lichens, rabbit muscular system dissection report, ubiquity of bacteria: laboratory activity.

• Words: 1496

How SCOBY Changes Its Environment: Lab Experiment

• Words: 1214

A Study of the Brine Shrimps and Their Natural Environment

• Words: 1937

Seed Germination and Osmosis

• Words: 1127

Osmosis Transport Across the Cell Membranes

Microbial groups and golden age of microbiology, psychophysics: definition & fundamentals.

• Words: 1606

Biology. Cell Analogy – Nucleus + Nucleolus

Plant growth and development with music, bird dna extraction: sex determination of gallus gallus.

• Words: 1109

Gekkonidae: Biological Characteristics

• Words: 1121

Earth Atmospheric Evolution

• Words: 1719

The Concept of Selective Breeding

• Words: 2724

Unknown Bacteria Under Microbiology Lab Tests

• Words: 1164

The Process of a Prenatal Child’s Development

Venus flytraps and arthropods: plant-animal interactions.

• Words: 2088

Vaquita – Endangered Species

• Words: 1367

16S and 18S Ribonucleic Acids: The Key Differences

Energy balance and expenditure, the role of the olive in human history and lives.

• Words: 1653

Epithelial Tissue: Structure and Functions

Memory: its functions, types, and stages of storage, computational biology as an essential research area, microbial growth and effect of ph on it.

• Words: 1330

Biological Taxonomy: Classification of Microorganisms

Yeast and the fermentation process, digestion, absorption and assembly of proteins.

• Words: 1456

The Pomegranate or “Punica Granatum L.”

• Words: 1184

Vision, Its Structure and Function in Humans

Photosynthesis as a biological process, the histopathology laboratory: special stains.

• Words: 2077

The Brain: Structure and Functions

The physical self concept analysis, differences of domesticated and wild animals and plants, cell culture and biomedical applications.

• Words: 1485

Essentials of Biodiversity

• Words: 1846

Human Reproductive Biology: Organs, Structure, Functions

• Words: 2909

Substrate Concentration and Rate of Enzyme Reactions

• Words: 1730

How the Human Eye Works Analogous to a Camera

Aspects of biology as a subject, life in the bottom of the ocean and its protection.

• Words: 1529

Cloning of Plants at the Botanic Garden

History of biotechnology.

• Words: 1908

Vertical Stratification

Domesticated, cultivated, and wild species, biology kingdom: fungi, plantae and animalia, streptomycetes among prokaryotes important in society, the expression of the bmp4 gene and its role in the evolutionary process.

• Words: 2409

Functions of Eukaryotic Cell Organelles and Their Importance

Plasmodium falciparum among eukaryotic microbes, lucid dreaming: impact on sleep disruption.

• Words: 1927

Protein Sequence Determination

Adenosine triphosphate: role in muscular system, identification of escherichia coli bacteria.

• Words: 1510

Bacteriophages in Modern Science

Asymmetric glycerophospholipids impart biophysical properties to lipid bilayers, biology of the invertebrates: malaria, photosynthesis, fermentation, and enzyme activity.

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30 Great Essays About Biology

If you read one a day, you may just fall in love..

The world needs more essays about biology. So last month, I tweeted a link to one of my favorite essays (#1 below) and promised that I would continue to share an additional essay every day for the next 29 days. I titled the series, “30 Essays to Make You Love Biology.”

I’ve now assembled all 30 essays in this article. I hope you’ll read them and emerge with a deeper appreciation for the cell, atoms and their confluence with physics and math.

I scoured the internet for non-paywalled versions of each article, so all links go to open-source versions. This effort was inspired by the website “ Read Something Wonderful .” Enjoy!

"I should have loved biology" by James Somers. An easy-to-read essay about how biology is poorly taught in schools, and how this poor teaching masks its most intriguing bits. Students are typically told to read textbooks and memorize facts about the cell ( Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell! ) without ever appreciating its miraculous complexity. Tests are often given as multiple choice, with little to no problem-solving involved. As Somers writes: "It was only in college, when I read Douglas Hofstadter’s Gödel, Escher, Bach, that I came to understand cells as recursively self-modifying programs." Link

"Cells are very fast and crowded places" by Ken Shirriff. A short essay about some awe-inspiring numbers in cell biology. My two favorite lines are: "A small molecule such as glucose is cruising around a cell at about 250 miles per hour" and "a typical enzyme can collide with something to react with 500,000 times every second." Link

"Seven Wonders," by Lewis Thomas. When Thomas was asked by a magazine editor “to join six other people at dinner to make a list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World,” he declined and instead drafted this article about the seven wonders of biology . Number 2 on the list: Bacteria that survive in 250°C waters. Link

"Life at low Reynolds number," by E.M. Purcell. An all-time classic. One of the best biology lectures of all time. This essay opened my eyes to the weirdness of life at the microscale, where "inertia plays no role whatsoever." Or, as Purcell says, "We know that F = ma, but [microbes] could scarcely care less." Link

"The Baffling Intelligence of a Single Cell," by James Somers & Edwin Morris. This interactive article, about chemotaxis and flagella, gives "an intuition for how a bag of unthinking chemicals could possibly give rise to a being." It’s stunning and slightly emblematic of the great Bartosz Ciechanowski’s blog. Link

"Thoughts About Biology," by James Bonner. A little-read essay, I think, that deserves more attention. Published in 1960, Bonner argues that biology is ever-changing and progress, often, comes from those outside the field. Part of biology’s beauty is that you can push it forward regardless of background. Link

"Biology is more theoretical than physics," by Jeremy Gunawardena. It is often said "that biology is not theoretical," writes Gunawardena, but that's not true. This essay gives examples where theory preceded and informed major discoveries in biology. It’s a must-read, especially for those who want to work on biology but don't feel compelled to work at the bench with a pipette in hand. Link

"Can a biologist fix a radio?" by Yuri Lazebnik. One of my favorites. Biologists tend to catalog things by breaking them apart. But without quantitative insights, it is difficult to piece them back together into a holistic understanding. Even if you think a line of inquiry in biology has been exhausted, there is always room to go deeper. Link

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"Schrodinger’s What Is Life? at 75" by Rob Phillips. In 1944, physicist Erwin Schrödinger wrote a book, called “What is Life?” that pondered a single question: “How can the events in space and time which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics and chemistry?" This essay is an ode, synopsis, and expansion of that classic book. "Names such as physics and biology are a strictly human conceit,” writes Phillips, “and the understanding of the phenomenon of life might require us to blur the boundaries between these fields." Link

"Molecular 'Vitalism'" by Marc Kirschner, John Gerhart & Tim Mitchison. Students are often taught that genes are the bedrock, or blueprint, for biology. But this picture is quickly changing, unraveling, fading. "Although...proteins, cells, and embryos are...the products of genes, the mechanisms that promote their function are often far removed from sequence information." Link

"Escherichia coli," by David Goodsell. Goodsell is a computational biologist who also makes brilliant watercolor paintings of living cells. His paintings are based on atomic truth —that is, the ribosomes, mRNAs, and DNA molecules are all painted to scale. This short essay explains how he does it. Link

"How Life Really Works," by Philip Ball. This essay challenges much that students are taught about how cells actually work. DNA is not some all-powerful blueprint of the cell, as textbooks often suggest. To truly understand life, argues Ball, one must first realize that cells are far more complex than that. They are, in fact, intelligent agents that change their surroundings to their own benefit. Link

"A Long Line of Cells," by Lewis Thomas. Another masterful essay that traces one man's life, and mankind's progress, through the lens of evolutionary biology. It helped me appreciate how my own life is deeply intertwined with the lives of organisms all around me. Link

"AlphaFold2 @ CASP14," by Mohammed AlQuraishi. Biological progress is swift, and that is one reason it is so exciting. In this first-person essay, a computational biologist marvels at a scientific breakthrough in predicting protein structures from their amino acid sequences. Link

"Theory in Biology: Figure 1 or Figure 7?," by Rob Phillips. Another great essay about theory —and not just wet-lab experiments—as a key driver of scientific progress. "Most of the time, if cell biologists use theory at all, it appears at the end of their paper, a parting shot from figure 7. A model is proposed after the experiments are done, and victory is declared if the model ‘fits’ the data." But such an approach is misguided, writes Phillips. As Henri Poincaré once said: "A science is built up of facts as a house is built up of bricks. But a mere accumulation of facts is no more a science than a pile of bricks is a house." Link

" On Being the Right Size," by J.B.S. Haldane. Published in 1926, this essay made me appreciate the myriad forms and functions of lifeforms all around me. I learned why an insect is not afraid of gravity; why a flea as large as a human couldn't jump as high as that human; why a tree spreads its branches, and much more. Simple, beautiful. Link

"I Have Landed," by Stephen Jay Gould. The final essay in a 300-essay series, Gould  writes about how he often lies awake at night, pondering his purpose in the Universe and his fear of death. And how, upon deep reflection, he is most stunned by the fact that life—after more than 3.5 billion years of evolution—continues to exist at all “without a single microsecond of disruption." Link

"A Life of Its Own," by Michael Specter. Published in The New Yorker in 2009, this piece explores the then-nascent field of synthetic biology. It opens by telling the story of Jay Keasling, a professor at UC Berkeley, who engineered yeast to make an antimalarial drug called artemisinin, which has been used to save at least 7.6 million lives. Artemisinin was historically extracted from the sweet wormwood plant in a painstaking and low-efficiency process. Link

"Slaying the Speckled Monster," by Jason Crawford. Smallpox killed an estimated 300 million people in the 20th century alone. This essay explains how a long line of brilliant scientists—from John Fewster and Edward Jenner to D.A. Henderson—invented the first vaccines against the disease and then, in the 1960s, launched campaigns to eradicate smallpox entirely. An inspiring story about how biological discoveries can save lives. I also learned this: "The origin story [about smallpox vaccines] that is usually told, where Jenner learns of cowpox’s protective properties from local dairy worker lore or his own observations of the beauty of the milkmaids, turns out to be false—a fabrication by Jenner’s first biographer, possibly an attempt to bolster his reputation by erasing any prior art." Link

"Why we didn’t get a malaria vaccine sooner," by Saloni Dattani, Rachel Glennerster & Siddhartha Haria. Malaria has killed billions of humans in the last few centuries and continues to kill 600,000+ each year. This is, simply put, the best essay ever written on the history of malaria and the invention of vaccines to prevent it. We are living through a revolutionary time, considering these vaccines were only approved for the first time in 2021. Link

"Biology is a Burrito" and "Fast Biology," by Niko McCarty. Cells are often envisioned as wide-open spaces, where molecules diffuse freely. But this isn't true. In reality, cells are so crowded, it’s a wonder they work at all. Every protein in the cell collides with about 10 billion water molecules per second. Protein ‘motors’ make energy-storing molecules by spinning around thousands of times a minute. Sugar molecules fly by at 250 miles per hour, nearly double the speed of a Cessna 172 airplane at cruising speed. When I first heard these numbers, I thought they were made up. After all, how is it even possible to measure such things? The world’s most powerful microscope cannot necessarily “see” a protein motor spinning, or watch a sugar molecule move through a cell. As a PhD student, I jumped head-first into the world of biological speed. My goal was to collect some "remarkable" numbers in biology and understand the experiments that brought them to light. My search made me appreciate how remarkable it is that life functions at all, considering the chaotic conditions in which cells exist. It also gave me a new appreciation for biology, and the incredible exactitude that one must have to engineer it — let alone engineer it successfully. Link | Link

"Jonas Salk, the People’s Scientist," by Algis Valiunas. Salk made one of the first successful polio vaccines. A double-blind clinical trial, launched in 1954, showed that patients who received his vaccine "developed paralytic polio at about one-third the rate of the control groups. On average across the different types...the vaccine was eighty to ninety percent effective." Shortly after the trial's results were made public, journalist Edward R. Murrow interviewed Salk. When Murrow asked Salk who held the patent on the vaccine, Salk replied: “Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?” Reading this essay helped me to appreciate the struggle and strife of biological research, the fickleness of fame, and the positive impact that a small group of scientists can have on the world. Link

"On Protein Synthesis," by Francis Crick. Arguably the most important essay in biology’s history, this was adapted from a lecture that Crick gave in 1957 during which the famed geneticist made several accurate predictions about how cells work well before experimental evidence existed to support them. “I shall…argue that the main function of the genetic material is to control (not necessarily directly) the synthesis of proteins," wrote Crick. "There is a little direct evidence to support this, but to my mind the psychological drive behind this hypothesis is at the moment independent of such evidence.” At the time, scientists weren't sure DNA had anything to do with proteins. In this essay, Crick also predicted the existence of a small ‘adaptor’ molecule that brings amino acids to the ribosome for protein synthesis (now known as tRNAs) and that future scientists would chart evolutionary lineages by comparing DNA sequences between organisms. Crick was years ahead of his time. This essay is a masterclass in scientific thinking. Link

"The People Who Saw Evolution," by Joel Achenbach. My favorite article on this list. Every year, for 40 years, Peter and Rosemary Grant traveled to Daphne Major, a volcanic island in the Galápagos, to study Charles Darwin's finches. During that time, they watched "evolution happen right before their eyes." In 1977, for example, just 24 millimeters of rain fell on Daphne Major, causing major food sources—including small, soft seeds—to become scarce. When the Grants returned to the island in 1978, they found that smaller finch species had died off, whereas “finches with larger beaks were able to eat the seeds and reproduce. The population in the years following the drought in 1977 had ‘measurably larger’ beaks than had the previous birds." I also strongly recommend the book, “ 40 Years of Evolution ,” from Princeton University Press.  Link

"Is the cell really a machine?" by Daniel J. Nicholson. Living cells are far more complex—and beautiful—than any machines made by human hands. In this essay, a philosopher points to four areas of current research where the metaphor of "cells as machines" breaks down. For example: Even though proteins are depicted as static or unmoving molecules, they actually “behave more like liquids than like solids." Link

"Biological Technology in 2050" by Rob Carlson. "In fifty years,” writes Carlson, “you may be reading The Economist on a leaf. The page will not look like a leaf, but it will be grown like a leaf. It will be designed for its function, and it will be alive. The leaf will be the product of intentional biological design and manufacturing." This is a futuristic essay about the potential of manipulating atoms via living cells. Link

"Research Papers Used to Have Style. What Happened?" by Roger's Bacon . This is an ode to beautiful scientific writing. The essay draws from classic biology research papers to make its case. Link

"Night Science," by Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher. A personal essay about scientific discoveries that do not emerge from the scientific method as it’s taught in school, as told by two biologists. Perhaps it will inspire you to take up night science experiments of your own. Link

"Atoms Are Local," by Elliot Hershberg. Biology is the ultimate distributed manufacturing platform. Cells harvest atoms from their environments—air and soil—and rearrange them to build materials, medicines, and everything we need to live. Link

"The Mechanistic Conception of Life," by Jacques Loeb. This is the article that got me hooked on biology a decade ago. Written by one of history’s greatest biologists, it poses a number of questions that I suspect will keep scientists busy for many decades to come. "We must either succeed in producing living matter artificially,” writes Loeb, “or we must find the reasons why this is impossible." Link

What essays did I miss? Let me know in the comments and I’ll expand the list :)

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Essays About Biology: Top 5 Best Examples and 6 Prompts

Writing essays about biology can be difficult because it’s composed of many subtopics. Check out this article for our top essay examples and writing prompts.

Biology came from the Greek words “bios” (life) and “logos” (study). It’s why biology is the study of life or living organisms. Aside from being a natural science, it also has consolidated themes, such as cells making all organisms. Because it’s a broad topic, biology is divided into specialized fields such as botany, genetics, zoology, microbiology, medicine, and ecology. 

Biologists consider living beings’ origin, evolution, growth, function, structure, and distribution. It’s a comprehensive subject, so there are many things you can write about in your essay. However, at the same time, you might find it challenging to focus on just one area. 

Below are examples to give you an idea of how to write your essays about biology:

1. Essay About Biology by Kelli Wilkins

2. my interests in biology by anonymous on essaywriting.expert, 3. essay on the importance of study of biology by akhila mol, 4. what biology means to me by anonymous on studymode.com, 5. how my biology teacher changed my perspective of learning the subject by sankalan bhattacharya, 1. biology in my everyday life, 2. something i realized because of biology, 3. my memorable biology class experience, 4. genetics’ role in people’s diseases, 5. my experience during the pandemic, 6. biology and health.

“Studying Biology is important for a number of reasons, but in particular because it is used in every field. If we did not have a good understanding of Biology then nobody would be able to understand how bodies work, and how life on earth functions.”

Wilkins shares her desire to study anatomy, a branch of biology, and expounds on what makes biology an essential field. Because biology lets people know more about the world, she digs into why she’s interested in anatomy, specifically to find ways to cure illnesses and develop technologies to discover new treatments. She ends her essay by relating biology to the existence of doctors and hospitals. 

“It is known that education plays an important role in the life of any individual. It gives an opportunity to develop personality and gain specific skills, to get profound knowledge and experience in order to apply them practically in the future. As for me, my major goal is to study Biology in order to get appropriate knowledge and skills required for my future profession.”

The author shares why they want to study biology, referring to the human body as the “perfect machine” and curious about how it performs each of its systems’ functions. The writer also mentions how biology is critical to their future profession. They aim to help people with their health problems and relay their desire to research the brain to find more data on it. 

“The study of biology owes great significance in human life, because man for its day-to-day requirements is dependent on plants and animals either directly or indirectly.”

Mol lists seven reasons why humans need biology in their daily lives. Her list includes health, diseases, agriculture, horticulture, food, animal breeding, and entertainment. She expounds on each point and how they affect a man during his time on Earth. She explains each relationship in a simple manner that’s easy to understand for the readers.

“Without biology, we would have no idea about an organism’s makeup, or the most basic unit of life, a cell… Biology influences me in many ways. Biology influences me by teaching me why to take care of the environment, why I am to take care of my body, and by giving me a better overall view of all scientific areas of study.”

In this short essay, the writer lists down reasons why biology is essential. These reasons include taking care of the environment, one’s body, and others. The author also expounds on their reasons by presenting facts supporting biology’s importance to the world and human lives.

“He told that the syllabus may be a good way to prepare for an exam but our knowledge should not be limited to any syllabus and the questions that were asked in the examination were related to the topic only. He told that if we try to know things in detail and understand them properly then the interest in the subject will develop, otherwise, students will not treat the subject as a subject of their choice. 

Bhattacharya shares his experience with a teacher with a unique teaching style. His Biology teacher from Class 7, before the era of the internet, don’t just carry one book to get all his lessons from. Instead, he has a notebook with the collated information from many books to teach his class. 

Bhattacharya’s teacher taught them things that were not in the curriculum, even if following the curriculum would give him higher points in his evaluation. He only wanted his students to learn more and share with them why learning differs from just knowing. 

Do you want to be sure you have an excellent essay? See our round-up of the best essay writing apps to help you check your output.

6 Prompts for Essays About Biology

You don’t have to be a biology student to write an essay about the subject. If you’re looking for easy prompts to write about, here are some to get you started:

If mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, who is the powerhouse of your classroom? Your home? Relate a biology topic to a similar structure in your life, then explain why you think they are the same. 

For instance, you can compare your mother to mitochondria which generate the energy needed to power a cell. The cell being you. You can say that she gives you energy every day by being there and supporting you in whatever way she can. This prompt bodes for a creative and intriguing essay.

Relay a lesson you learned from biology and how it perfectly explained something you were once hesitant about. Such as being insecure about your big ears – only to know from a biology trivia that ears never stop growing. You can then share how this help lessen your insecurity because you now know large ears are normal. 

Do you have a memory you won’t forget that happened during biology class? Narrate this story and explain why it’s something that left an impression on you. To give you an idea, you can talk about the first time you dissected an animal, where you first realized how complex organisms are and that they are made of many systems to function, no matter how small.

Gene action and heredity are evolving. If you have a genetic illness or know someone who has it, you can share your experience. Then explain what your genes have to do with the disease. Is it something you got from your parents? Did they inherit it from your grandparents? Finally, you can add what your parents’ and grandparents’ lives were like because of the disease.

Virology, another branch of biology, studies viruses and viral diseases. A recent example is the coronavirus pandemic, where more people realized the importance of knowing a virus’ origin, structure, and how they work. Write an essay where you explain how the pandemic operates, such as why people should wear masks, social distance, etc.

For this essay, you can write about how biology helps you care for your health. For example, you can include how biology helped doctors give you the appropriate diagnosis, how you had the opportunity to have the proper treatment, etc. 

If you want to write on a related topic, here are essay topics about nature you can consider for your next essay.