IB Biology IA Ideas (30+ Topics) - A Goldmine You Can't Ignore.

Sitting in that quiet corner, sipping on hot chocolate hoping it rains IB Biology IA ideas, instead, going blank and utterly confused?

 

We don’t want that to happen, do we? 

 

Choosing the perfect IB Biology IA idea is only the first step in making one’s IB Biology Investigation, but definitely, the most significant. IB Biology IA Ideas won’t strike out of the blue, but here’s a list of 30+ IB Biology IA ideas to inspire and stimulate your grey cells! Selecting an IBxq Biology IA idea has never been easier! 

 

Before we go looking for IB Biology IA ideas, let’s get a clear comprehension of the IB Biology Diploma Programme Subject, its objectives, partwise breakdown, and what IB expects of you.

 

The IB IAs are an essential part of one’s overall subject performance since they make  20% of the final score. Internal Assessments are the perfect way to get students to put their knowledge to use by Observing, Questioning, and Investigating. Personal engagement, Exploration, Analysis, Evaluation, and Communication are the criteria against which the investigation is assessed.                      

 

The sure shot way to ace one’s IB Biology IA or any IA for that matter is by picking a topic that sparks one’s interest. A well planned, structured, and executed IA is one that has been undertaken with complete zeal and enthusiasm. It is all the same when choosing that one Biology IA idea from a platter full of inspiration. 

 

Before we dive more in-depth, you might want to check out our premium IB Biology SL Notes to own your Biology SL papers! Along with a bundle of Past Papers, these premium SL notes include guides for your Extended Essay and Internal Assessments with helpful examples! You certainly don’t want to miss out on these! Browse these for more information! 

 

When it comes to selecting from several IB Biology IA ideas for your investigation, it is essential to note that your IA would either require you to:

• Carry out an experimental investigation in the laboratory or
• Draw interpretation from a credible database or
• Make a detailed analysis using a simulation/modeling.

 

Either way, you have to connect to your topic and portray personal engagement as it lays the foundation for the rest of your investigation. Proper research on your part is a bare minimum, and the rest follows. Here’s a quick summary of how you are supposed to choose an appropriate IB Biology IA idea for your report:

• Know your interest: Go through several IA ideas to understand what all topics are in sync with the IB Biology curriculum and if something grabs your attention, hold on to it!
• Keep it specific: Neither should the idea be too generic and nor too simplistic. An ideal IA idea is one that reeks of originality and leaves room for proper investigation and analysis in the process.
• Let it be realistic: Outline the Equipment, time, and resources to keep a check on its feasibility.

 

Tada! There you go! 

 

Now that you know how to settle on that one perfect topic, let’s quickly brief ourselves with the proper planning and procedure involved in the making of an IB Biology IA:

Concise Research Question: Your Research Question and the Aim of the Investigation are separate sub-headings with different implications. Keep the research question brief and relevant. The Aim answers Why while the Research Question answers the What.

• Set the Background: It is important to set the Research Question in the background of the chosen topic. By Background, IB expects you to briefly explain what encouraged you to choose a particular topic and hopefully a personal story that validates your choice and engagement. For instance, if you choose to investigate how light levels affect the predation of peppered moths, you could set a background of you have gained a fascination for that species ever since it was introduced to you for some explanation in your regular classes and eventually give more scientific basis for your choice.
• Highlight your variables and hypothesis: Independent, Dependent variables need to be highlighted, as should the hypothesis. State your hypothesis; it is important in the context of your research. Constraints, if any, need to be mentioned as well. Remember, the Independent variable is one that you are allowed to change(just one); the Dependent variable is one that you measure as it changes with the Independent variable; all the other experiment conditions must be kept constant to ensure that the experiment is fair.
• Method and Equipment used: The procedure used should be well structured.
• Observations: Tables, Graphs, etc., should be used.
• Analysis and Conclusion: Perform the relevant analysis, keeping in mind the research question, and conclude. 
• Evaluation: Limitations and Improvements should be specified.

 

It is imperative to acknowledge the safety protocols as established by IB and consider the ethical aspects of your investigation. 

 

Focus on the question:

“If there are any ethical implications to your report, how do you plan on minimizing the environmental impact of your experiment?” 

 

Citing documents/web pages and giving references is another important aspect of your IA that needs to be taken care of. 

 

An important thing to note here is that although you are allowed to take inspiration from existing research, papers/journals, you are expected to give a novel perspective to the idea while producing it in your investigation.

 

For example, an idea inspired by how the soil pH affects seed germination could be investigated in a new light; think of other factors controlling/affecting seed germination,  and with a focus on quantitative data, you could progress further in your report.

 

With all the necessary information at your disposal, it is time to present before you some amazing IB Biology IA ideas to encourage you to put your thinking caps on and take on the challenge with newfound zeal! These ideas are meant to give you a little head start along this path; your final IB Biology Investigation idea is your interpretation of one.

 

1. Investigating the rate of photosynthesis in a Tomato plant(Solanum Lycopersicum) by comparing the effect of light quality.
   • Reference to Course: Molecular Biology (Metabolism, Cell Respiration, Photosynthesis)
   • Lab, Simulation-based
2. Finding how distance from a light source affects photosynthetic activity.
   • Reference to Course: Molecular Biology (Metabolism, Cell Respiration, Photosynthesis)
   • Experimental 
3. Investigating biological membranes using a spectrovis to measure changes in colour because of the release of betacyanin due to beet cell membranes' damage. 
   • Reference to Course: Cell Biology (Membrane Structure)
   • Experimental
4. Studying how Transpiration Rates are affected by varying Temperatures.
   • Reference to Course: Plant Biology
   • Experimental
5. Finding how the metabolism of starch to glucose varies with variation in fruit ripening methods adopted.
   • Reference to Course: Molecular Biology (Metabolism, Cell Respiration, Photosynthesis)
   • Experimental
6. Investigating how Lactase enzyme interacts with Lactose when found in Lactaid Pills( Lactose Intolerance pills).
   • Reference to Course: Molecular Biology (Enzymes)
   • Experimental
7. Studying Mitosis in Onion(Allium cepa)/ Garlic(Allium sativum). Also, calculating the Mitotic Index for the same.
   • Reference to Course: Cell Biology
   • Experimental
8. Finding how absorption spectra of different grades of olive oil compare.
   • Reference to Course: Plant Biology
   • Experimental
9. Exploring the effect of varying temperatures on the chemical properties of pH and the mineral properties of phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen content of a particular variety of soil.
   • Reference to Course: Plant Biology
   • Simulation/Modelling
10. Studying the effect of time on plasmolysis of potatoes.
    • Reference to Course: Cell Biology (Osmosis)
    • Database based
11. Investigating how the concentration of sodium chloride ions affects the rate at which enzyme ∝ - amylase hydrolyses starch, using a spectrophotometer.
    • Reference to Course:  Molecular Biology (Enzymes)
    • Experimental
12. Finding how light levels affect the predation of a particular insect.
    • Reference to Course: Ecology
    • Experimental
13. Investigating the effect of antibiotics on bacterial growth/microorganisms.
    • Reference to Course: Microbiology
    • Database based
14. Exploring how algae samples' primary productivity changes with temperature, algae concentration, other aquatic plants, turbidity, salinity, nutrients, and other factors.
    • Reference to Course: Ecology
    • Experimental
15. Studying whether there is a relationship between the primary structure of amylases and pH buffers. 
    • Reference to Course: Molecular Biology(Enzymes)
    • Experimental

16. Understanding how a particular abiotic factor affects the biodiversity in a habitat.

    • Reference to Course: Ecology

    • Experimental, Simulation-based

17. Comparing the buffering actions of various substances: antacids, milk, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, detergents, etc.

    • Reference to Course: Buffers

    • Experimental

18. Investigating how tuberculosis's Incidence is related to a country’s Human Development Index(HDI) level.

    • Reference to Course: Human Physiology

    • Experimental

19. Exploring how the reaction times of humans get affected with age.

    • Reference to Course: Human Physiology

    • Experimental

20. Finding how the respiration rates of baker’s yeast and lager and wine yeast in various sugar solutions compare.

    • Reference to Course: Cell Biology

    • Experimental

21. Investigating how the concentration of RuBisCo in the leaves of a plant species varies with varied exposure to sunlight.

    • Reference to Course: Molecular Biology(Enzymes)

    • Experimental

22. Exploring how the Water Quality Index (WQI) is affected by water obtained from Chemical Industries/Sewage Treatment Plants.

    • Reference to Course: Ecology

    • Simulation Analysis

23. Studying how sudden workout affects the heart rate and baroreceptor feedback.

    • Reference to Course: Human Physiology

    • Experimental

24. Comparing Gersmehl diagrams from different biomes or applying them in different real-world conditions by measuring the content of nutrient sinks- biomass, litter, or soil.

    • Reference to Course: Ecology

    • Database, Experimental

25. Studying the effect of enzymes on Cheese production.

    • Reference to Course: Molecular Biology(Enzymes)

    • Experimental

26. Exploring how the height of plants is affected by Nitrogen or Fluoride based fertilizers used.

    • Reference to Course: Plants Physiology

    • Experimental

27. Investigating muscle activity involved when standing on one’s toes(Ballet dancers).

    • Reference to Course: Human Physiology

    • Experimental

28. Comparing the Carbon Dioxide levels in the air exhaled after and before workout sessions.

    • Reference to Course: Human Physiology

    • Experimental

29. Studying how different carbohydrates in edibles impact the blood sugar levels in humans. 

    • Reference to Course: Human Physiology

    • Experimental

30. Exploring root hair cells and finding their visibility with age.

    • Reference to Course: Cell Biology

    • Experimental

 

These ideas are for you to start exploring and begin! Take inspiration from these and research further to land on that one idea that gets you going!

 

But is that it? Certainly not! 

 

Here are a couple of other ideas you could browse and eventually take inspiration from:

31. Effect of Different Fertilizers on Eutrophication.
32. Analyzing Milk Spoilage under varying conditions of Temperature, Sunlight, etc.
33. Exploring how a particular variable affects the germination of seeds.
34. Investigating the rate of oxygen production of seaweed with variation in light intensity.
35. To prevent microbial growth, exploring better ways to clean household items(for example - mats).
36. Studying the effect of temperature on photosynthesis in Green Gram(Vigna Radiata).
37. Understanding what effect different ethanol concentrations have on cell membranes.
38. Studying the biology behind Schizophrenia.
39. Investigating the decay time of different Genetically Modified Foods.
40. Understanding the effect of different variables on vegetable decay/ Exploring different methods to prevent vegetable decay.

 

And that’s that!

 

We hope these little ideas will help you brainstorm and explore further in the vast yet intriguing expanse, which is Biology. IB Biology curriculum expects you to appreciate scientific problems in a global context with stimulating opportunities, and IB Biology IAs help you accomplish just that. It might seem like a lot of work, but with the right topic in hand, you will go beyond your expectations! On this note, we wish you all the very best for your IB Biology IA Journey :)

 

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We hope this article will serve as a foundation for you to get going on that IB Biology IA Investigation of yours!