Ask a Scientist

The Ask a Scientist website is neat place to browse and find information, but it is not a place to find out information on a specific question quickly.  It states on the home page that it will take at least two weeks for a response, but I did not receive a response in the last couple of weeks since I submitted my question.  I wonder if my questions was to specific.  I asked "how different cells can have the same transport proteins but only certain transport protein are "turned on" to allow in the correct molecules?"   I know that the needs of the cell determine what enters and leaves the cell, so that is probably what turns on the needed transport molecules.  I copied and pasted the same question into Google and found these other websites that answered the question.

http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/index.php/t-6533.html

http://www.biologyreference.com/Ma-Mo/Membrane-Transport.html

http://virtuallaboratory.colorado.edu/Biofundamentals/lectureNotes/Topic2E_Membranes.htm

These sites help answer the questions on different levels, from pretty simplistic to college level.  I often get in  trouble with the media specialist at my school because I do have my students "Google" an answer instead of going through the schools website.  I work with my students on how to recognize what is a trusted website and what websites are not trustworthy.    These three websites fit the criteria of a trusted website, they are either a part of a university, or a part of a trusted organization, such as Scientific America or uses resources from peer review journals.  To find reliable websites is important for students as schools use more 21st century technology.