Your friend asks for your help checking their essay about sugar production and use in plants. They have found an online encyclopedia that says the following. "Plants produce glucose via photosynthesis. Glucose is linked together to form carbohydrate starch." Your friend is confused, though, because a university website states that "glucose is linked together to form cellulose, the main part of cell walls." Help your friend fact check their information. In 3-5 sentences, describe how they can determine which website(s) to believe.

Answer 1

To determine which website(s) to believe, your friend should consider the credibility and authority of the sources. Academic and university websites, as well as peer-reviewed journals, typically provide more reliable information than general encyclopedias or unverified online content. They should also check the publication date to ensure the information is current and review the references cited to ensure they are based on reputable scientific studies. Lastly, your friend could cross-reference the claims with other established sources in plant biology to see if they align, further validating the information.