Biology Research Paper Topics: 250+ Ideas for 2025

The field of biology is a hub of endless discoveries. From tiny cells to entire ecosystems, there’s always something wild to discover. And with jobs expected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, pursuing careers in this field is rather a smart move.

In this post, we’ve gathered 240 compelling biology research topics for college students in 2025. You’ll find ideas across key branches of biology. Whether you're writing for a class assignment or prepping for a science fair, these topics will give your paper the spark it needs.

And hey, if brainstorming topics is already making your head spin or writing just isn’t your thing, WritePaper is a great place to get help. Our experts can assist with any academic task, from outlining your ideas to offering research paper writing services.

What Is a Biology Research Paper?

A biology research paper examines a certain biological topic. The paper investigates, analyzes, and documents various biological phenomena. These papers allow you to discover the structure, function, and behavior of living organisms.

There are several types of biology research topics:

• Experimental papers
• Review papers
• Theoretical papers

Molecular Biology Biology Research Paper Topics 

Molecular biology is where biology meets chemistry, zooming in on the molecules that drive life, like DNA, RNA, and proteins. Below are 15 research questions to help you explore molecular biology topics:

1. How does cell division differ in normal and cancer cells?
2. How does the structure of chromatin help in the accessibility of genes?
3. How are chromosomes maintained while replicating?
4. How can CRISPR-Cas mechanisms be utilized in editing genetic material?
5. What are the principal routes of DNA damage and repair?
6. How is the cell's regulation of DNA metabolism?
7. Why is DNA recombination of biological importance?
8. How are cells maintaining DNA replication accuracy?
9. How is gene expression regulated at the molecular level?
10. What is the role of non-coding RNAs in gene regulation?
11. How does protein folding affect function, and what happens when it goes wrong?
12. What are signal transduction pathways, and how do they control cell behavior?
13. What is the molecular cause of cancer development?
14. How does gene therapy treat genetic diseases?
15. What are the molecular mechanisms of infectious diseases?

Microbiology

Microbiology is interested in the study of microscopic life. Microbiology is of paramount significance in medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. The following are 15 research topics to help you explore microbiology:

1. Which microbes infect mediastinitis and how?
2. What explains microbial diversity?
3. What causes antibiotic resistance
4. What are the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms
5. What is the correlation between human microbiome and health?
6. How do microbials produce bioplastics?
7. What is the connection between environmental microbiology and climate change?
8. What are the biotechnology applications of microorganisms?
9. What is the connection between pathogenicity and virulence factors
10. What are the different types of microbial interactions in soil ecosystems?
11. How does food microbiology affect safety?
12. How does microbial bioremediation of heavy metals work?
13. How is biofilm formed and controlled? 
14. What are microbial genetics and genomics?
15. How is synthetic biology being used to redesign microbes for new purposes?

Before we continue with the topics, read our article about capstone project examples.

Human Biology Research Paper Ideas

Human biology explores the human body, its structure, function, growth, evolution, and interactions with environments. Here’s a list of human biology research paper topics and ideas: 

1. What is genetic diversity in human populations?
2. What are some evolutionary adaptations in humans?
3. What physiological mechanisms of homeostasis are there?
4. How does anatomy vary among individuals?
5. How does nutrition impact human health?
6. What are some of the human reproductive strategies?
7. How to approach endocrine system disorders?
8. How does the immune system respond to pathogens?
9. What is the neurobiological basis of human behavior?
10. How are cardiovascular diseases prevented?
11. What affects bone health?
12. How does the respiratory system adapt to environmental changes?
13. What influence does the digestive system microbiome have on health?
14. What are some of the human developmental biology growth patterns?
15. What are the effects of aging on human biological systems?

Animal Biology Paper Topics

Animal biology, also known as zoology, studies animals, their behaviors, physiological processes, and interactions with their environments. See 15 research topics for biology about animals: 

1. How do animals self-medicate?
2. What are the quantum mechanisms in avian navigation?
3. What is de-extinction and conservation biology?
4. What is the role of AI in decoding animal communication?
5. How does flightlessness evolve in birds?
6. What are animals’ collective behavior and self-organization patterns? 
7. What regenerative capabilities does zebrafish have?
8. What are some ethical considerations in animal research?
9. How does climate change impact animal behavior?
10. What is genetic management in conservation efforts?
11. How do phase transitions occur in animal collectives?
12. What are some complex fluids in animal physiology?
13. What is the role of parasites in animal ecosystems?
14. What are animal biomechanics and locomotion?
15. What is neuroethology in terms of the neural basis of animal behavior?

Ecology and Environmental Biology

Ecology and environmental biology are two very similar but still different fields of biological science. Here are research topics to discuss ecology and environmental biology: 

1. What is community ecology?
2. What is conservation biology?
3. What is climate change?
4. How does fire affect ecology?
5. What does biodiversity mean?
6. What is an ecosystem, and what does it consist of?
7. What causes pollution?
8. What are examples of renewable energy?
9. How do chemicals affect interactions between organisms?
10. What does environmental justice mean?
11. What is limnology?
12. What does soil science study?
13. How can agriculture be sustainable?
14. Environmental Toxicology
15. How do cities impact ecosystems?​

Evolution and Genetics

Evolution and genetics are parts of biology that have fascinated humans for centuries. Below, you will find 15 evolutionary biology research paper topics: 

1. What is the impact of genetic drift on small populations?​
2. How does adaptive radiation lead to species diversity?​
3. What role do transposable elements play in genome evolution?​
4. How do primate genomes compare through comparative genomics?​
5. What genetic changes occur during animal domestication?​
6. How does gene duplication affect evolutionary processes?​
7. What is the significance of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotic evolution?​
8. How do bacteria develop antibiotic resistance at the genetic level?​
9. What are the evolutionary patterns of sex chromosomes in vertebrates?​
10. How is the molecular clock utilized in evolutionary studies?​
11. What constitutes the genetic architecture of complex human traits?​
12. How has genomic data informed the evolutionary history of hominins?​
13. What effects do genetic bottlenecks have on species diversity?​
14. How do hosts and pathogens co-evolve genetically?​
15. What role does gene flow play in maintaining species boundaries?​

Cell Biology Research Ideas

Cell biology explores the structure, function, and behaviors of cells, all which are the basic units of life. Below, you will find 15 cell biology research topics:

1. How do cells develop specific jobs in the body?
2. How do cells clean up and maintain their health?
3. How do cancer cells receive and respond to signals?
4. How do mitochondria change shape and produce energy?
5. How do cells control their growth and division?
6. How do cells communicate through tiny messages called exosomes?
7. How do cells change their internal structure to move?
8. How do cells respond to stress in their protein factories (ER)?
9. How do cells program their own death in diseases?
10. How do tiny channels control signals within cells?
11. Why do cells age and eventually stop dividing?
12. How do cells move substances internally using small packages called vesicles?
13. How do stem cells communicate with their surroundings?
14. How can environmental factors change cell behavior without altering DNA (epigenetics)?
15. How does damage from harmful molecules (oxidative stress) affect cell survival?

Biotechnology 

Biotechnology uses science and technology to solve practical problems in medicine, agriculture, and the environment. Below, you will find 15 biotechnology research topics:

1. How can CRISPR gene editing treat inherited blood disorders?
2. How can biotechnology create crops that survive drought conditions?
3. How can genetic engineering boost biofuel production efficiency?
4. How can stem cell therapy repair spinal cord injuries?
5. How can gene therapy treat rare genetic diseases?
6. How can biotechnology be used to create effective vaccines?
7. How can engineered microorganisms clean environmental pollutants?
8. How can synthetic biology develop new medicines?
9. How can nanobiotechnology improve targeted drug delivery?
10. How can biotechnology advance personalized medicine?
11. How can biosensors help detect diseases early?
12. How can gene editing improve agricultural crops?
13. How can biotechnology help overcome antibiotic resistance?
14. How can algae be used effectively for biofuel production?
15. How can biotechnology make agriculture more sustainable?

Marine Biology

Marine biologists study life and ecosystems in oceans and seas, everything from tiny organisms to large marine mammals. Below are 15 topics for a marine biology research paper:

1. What is harming coral reefs?
2. How do deep-sea creatures survive?
3. Why are tiny ocean organisms important?
4. How does acidic water affect marine life?
5. Why should we protect mangroves?
6. How do marine mammals talk?
7. Why are invasive species a problem?
8. How do deep-sea creatures help each other?
9. What happens if we catch too many fish?
10. How does plastic harm sea life?
11. Why are seagrasses important?
12. Can ocean life help make medicines?
13. Why do we need phytoplankton?
14. Where do sea turtles travel?
15. Does ocean noise bother marine animals?

Let’s take a break and read our article about nursing research questions.  

Immunology

Immunology is the study of the immune system and how it protects the body from diseases, infections, and harmful substances. Below, you'll find 15 simple immunology research topics:

1. Why does the immune system sometimes attack the body?
2. How can we make new vaccines?
3. What causes inflammation?
4. How do germs hide from our immune system?
5. How does our immune system remember infections?
6. How do gut bacteria affect immunity?
7. Why do allergies happen?
8. How does aging affect immunity?
9. How does the body control its immune responses?
10. How does the body first fight viruses?
11. Why do autoimmune diseases occur?
12. How do antibodies help treat diseases?
13. Can stress weaken immunity?
14. Why does the body sometimes reject transplants?
15. How does the immune system defend us with proteins?

Epidemiology

Epidemiology studies how diseases spread, their causes, and how they affect different populations. Below are 15 epidemiology research topics:

1. How does human behavior affect disease spread?
2. What diseases come from certain jobs?
3. How can we measure aging in health studies?
4. Can genetics help track malaria outbreaks?
5. Who is more likely to get autoimmune diseases?
6. How can research help create better health policies?
7. Can electronic health records improve health studies?
8. Do metabolic diseases increase heart disease risk?
9. How does climate change impact global health?
10. Is it better to control one disease or many at once?
11. How do vaccines protect public health?
12. How can we prevent different types of cancer?
13. Which environmental factors make diseases more common?
14. How do diseases affect older populations?
15. How do we track and control infections?

Astrobiology

Astrobiology explores the possibility of life beyond Earth, studying how life originates, survives, and evolves in the universe. Below are 15 astrobiology research topics:

1. Can space create molecules needed for life?
2. How did large molecules first form life?
3. Do planets and life evolve together?
4. What makes a planet livable?
5. How can we detect signs of life on other planets?
6. Can extreme life survive in outer space?
7. Could life spread from one planet to another?
8. Did deep-sea vents help life begin?
9. Can space radiation affect living things?
10. How can we protect planets from contamination?
11. Could life exist in oceans beneath icy moons?
12. Can molecules necessary for life form in space?
13. Could life survive in the clouds of Venus?
14. What does methane on Mars tell us about possible life?
15. Can Earth help us understand life on other planets?

Neurobiology Research Topics

Neurobiology studies how the nervous system works, including the brain, neurons, and behaviors. Below are 15 neurobiology research topics:

1. How does the brain learn?
2. Why does the mood change?
3. What causes brain diseases?
4. Why do we need sleep?
5. How does the brain create awareness?
6. How do we see?
7. Why does the teen brain change?
8. Can stress harm the brain?
9. Why do people get addicted?
10. What helps brain cells talk?
11. Do adults grow new brain cells?
12. Can food affect your brain?
13. What causes mental illness?
14. Can brains control computers?
15. How do we feel pain?

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Immune System

Simply put, the immune system is all about protecting your body from sickness. Check out these 15 research topic ideas about the immune system:  

1. How does your body defend itself?
2. How do gut bacteria affect immunity?
3. Why does the immune system attack the body?
4. How does your body remember infections?
5. Does getting older change your immunity?
6. How do we make vaccines?
7. Why do allergies happen?
8. How can your immune system fight cancer?
9. What is a cytokine storm?
10. How does your body control immunity?
11. Why does the body reject transplants?
12. Can food boost immunity?
13. How does your body handle long infections?
14. How do scientists make antibodies?
15. How do immune cells recognize threats?

DNA

DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism. See these simple yet explorable 15 DNA topic ideas: 

1. How does DNA copy itself without mistakes?
2. Why do chromosomes shorten as we age?
3. How do we inherit mitochondrial DNA?
4. How can we read DNA faster?
5. How does DNA control genes?
6. How does gene editing (CRISPR) work?
7. What does non-coding DNA do?
8. Can bacteria share DNA?
9. How does the body fix damaged DNA?
10. Can traits be passed down without changing DNA?
11. How can DNA be used in technology?
12. How does jumping DNA affect evolution?
13. Can DNA identify different species?
14. Can the environment damage DNA?
15. How can DNA therapy fix genetic diseases?

Genetic Engineering and Epigenetics 

Genetic engineering and epigenetics study how genes can be changed or controlled. These fields can impact medicine, agriculture, and our understanding of diseases. Below are 15 research topics about genetic engineering and epigenetics:

1. Can gene therapy cure diseases?
2. How is CRISPR technology advancing?
3. Can epigenetics cause diseases?
4. Can gene drives control animal populations?
5. Is it ethical to edit human genes?
6. How can epigenetics change stem cells?
7. What are TALENs and zinc finger nucleases?
8. How do histones affect genes?
9. Can gene editing make better crops?
10. Can epigenetics affect mental health?
11. What's the difference between editing body cells and reproductive cells?
12. How does the environment influence genes?
13. Can gene editing fix inherited diseases?
14. How do epigenetics shape early development?
15. How can synthetic biology change genomes?

How to Choose a Biology Research Paper Topic

Picking the right topic is critical for your biology research paper. No one wants to be halfway through writing and realize you’re bored of the topic or stuck with limited sources. Follow these four steps to avoid the common mistakes: 

1. Understand your area of interest: Start by thinking about which parts of biology actually excite you  -  genetics, marine life, human anatomy? Go with something you're curious about.
2. Evaluate available research and resources: A great topic still needs backup. There should be enough scientific literature, data, and credible sources to back you up with your paper.
3. Consider the complexity and scope: Don't choose an overly broad topic or one that's too narrow.
4. Match the topic to research guidelines: Check your assignment requirements. If there’s a word count or specific format, choose a topic that fits.

The right topic should feel challenging but doable, and after all, genuinely interesting to you.

Sum Up

Choosing the right biology research paper topic comes down to balancing your interests, available research, and assignment requirements. We covered dozens of ideas across fields like molecular biology, genetics, immunology, and more to help you find the perfect fit. A well-researched and engaging topic not only makes writing easier but also makes your paper stand out.

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