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Current
Genetics publishes review articles, research articles and technical
notes. Manuscripts for review articles are usually solicited, but
suggestions from authors are encouraged. All submitted manuscripts undergo a
rigorous, fair and rapid peer-review.
Indicate the category of your manuscript when submitting it.
Specific requirements and criteria for Current Genetics articles
Research articles should describe and
appropriately interpret results of a complete study. "Complete" in
this sense does not refer to the length of an article. However, the results
presented must justify all conclusions drawn and those conclusions should
constitute a significant step ahead in the relevant field. The study presented
must arrive at a defined endpoint, which ideally will stimulate further
research. However, preliminary results that require follow-up in another paper
are not considered. Generally, the results presented should be of a more general
interest well beyond the lab of the authors or should be likely to become of
such wider interest in the foreseeable future.
We welcome articles based on analysis of genome sequences, if they lead to novel
insight and/or stimulate further experimental research. We also welcome
theoretical studies (mathematical modelling, software) provided that they either
are part of an experimental study or are suitable to support experimental work.
For Technical notes specific criteria apply. Referees will be asked the following questions:
Review articles should summarise the present knowledge in a certain field. Such reviews can be more comprehensive (up to 20 printed pages) or can be focused around very specific aspects or even a gene/protein/aspect of particular interest. The most important criteria are that reviews are of interest to a wider audience and/or make a wide audience aware of novel and interesting aspects. Authors are very welcome to critically discuss present knowledge and even to speculate, as long as such speculations are based on existing results and realistic scientific wisdom. Within the focus of the article the review should be complete, written in an exciting and stimulating way and it should be well-illustrated.
MANUSCRIPTS SUBMITTED TO CURRENT GENETICS MUST
BE WRITTEN IN ENGLISH AND THE QUALITY OF THE LANGUAGE MUST BE SUFFICIENT TO
FLUENTLY READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ARTICLE AND TO ALLOW A NON-EXPERT TO EDIT
LANGUAGE. PLEASE ASK A NATIVE SPEAKER FOR HELP OR CONTACT THE EDITORIAL OFFICE,
WHICH CAN RECOMMEND A PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE EDITOR.
Manuscripts written in insufficient English might be rejected solely for this
reason. Manuscripts written in bad English containing many errors are often
graded more poorly be referees than well-written manuscripts of similar
scientific quality.
IMPORTANT. It is ESSENTIAL that papers are
written such that they explain the wider impact of the work and that the
educated biologist is attracted by the incentive, scope and conclusions of the
work. Please take this into account esp. in the abstract, introduction and
discussion sections, for instance in the following way:
1. Start the abstract with a clear statement on the scope, relevance and
intention of the study, before describing the main results.
2. End the abstract with a clear statement about the main conclusions and
perspectives of the work.
3. The first paragraph of the introduction should clearly explain scope,
importance and incentive of the work in a manner that is understandable by the
educated biologist.
4. The first or final paragraph of the discussion should clearly describe the
main conclusions of the work, their importance and potential for further
studies.
Failure to address this issue carefully may lead to rejection of the paper or
delay its acceptance.
Detailed instruction for preparation and submission of manuscripts are available in pdf format.