Research Guides: #Biology: Websites

General Biology

Critically evaluate the information you find on the Internet. Consider the 5 W's:

Who wrote the web pages and are they an authority?
What is the purpose of the site? Look to the domain for a clue about purpose (.gov,.com, .edu)
When was the site created and updated? Current?
Where does the information come from? (publisher or sponsor)
Why is this information useful - is it relevant to my research?

The web sites listed below have been evaluated based on the above criteria. When you explore the web, do the same careful review.

National Human Genome Research Institute Home | NHGRI
Established in 1989, NHGRI collaborates with the scientific and medical communities to catalyze genomic breakthroughs and supports the robust study and treatment of specific diseases with our colleagues at NIH.
National Center for Biotechnology Information | NCBI
The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
MedLine Plus: Genetics
Find consumer-friendly information about the effects of genetic variation on human health.
BioEd Online
BioEd Online, the online educational resource for educators, students, and parents, utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give you instant access to reliable, cutting-edge information and educational tools for biology and related subjects.
Animal Diversity Web
Animal Diversity Web (ADW) is an online database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology at the University of Michigan.
Classification of Living Things
This is a great introduction to taxonomic structure in the form of a tutorial and numerous explanations and definitions. Includes photos and sounds (for correct pronunciation).
Tree of Life Web Project
A web project produced by biologists from around the world. Taxonomic and identifying information about organisms, including drawings, photographs, references, and related information.
The Knowledge Project
Published by Nature Education, a division of Nature Publishing Group. Subject-specific libraries of peer-reviewed papers written by experts from the fields of Ecology; Earth Systems; Soil, Agriculture, and Agricultural Biotechnology; Environmental Ethics, and Biological Anthropology.

Online Magazines & Blogs

The Scientist
The Scientist is the magazine for life science professionals—a publication dedicated to covering a wide range of topics central to the study of cell and molecular biology, genetics, and other life-science fields.
Scientific American
Scientific American covers the most important and exciting research, ideas and knowledge in science, health, technology, the environment and society. It is committed to sharing trustworthy knowledge, enhancing our understanding of the world, and advancing social justice.
As Many Exceptions as Rules
Weekly blog telling the stories of organisms that break biological rules or norms in order to survive and thrive. Each story includes links to the reports from the latest research on the subject being discussed and a list of online resources for more information.
iBioMagazine
Collection of very short talks highlighting the human side of research. Sponsored by National Science Foundation, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and The American Society for Cell Biology.
Discover Magazine
Take an exciting adventure with Discover magazine as it reports captivating developments in science, medicine, technology, and the world around us. Spectacular photography and refreshingly understandable stories on complex subjects connect everyday people with the greatest ideas and minds in science.