PLoS Biology

PLoS Biology
Title	PLoS Biology
Discipline	Biology
Abbreviation	PLoS Biol.
Publisher	Public Library of Science
Country	United States
Frequency	Monthly
History	2003–present

PLoS Biology is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal that publishes research across the life sciences. Launched by the Public Library of Science initiative, the journal aims to make primary research and commentary freely available to readers worldwide. It positions itself within a broader movement that includes organizations and events such as the Human Genome Project, the Budapest Open Access Initiative, and debates involving institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust.

History

PLoS Biology was established amid early-2000s discussions involving stakeholders such as the Wellcome Trust, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and advocacy from figures associated with the Open Society Foundations and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The journal’s 2003 launch followed precedent-setting projects including the Human Genome Project and the creation of repositories like PubMed Central and organizations such as the National Library of Medicine. Early editorial leadership drew on experience from journals like Nature, Science, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. High-profile debates around the journal involved publishers including Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley-Blackwell, and policy discussions featured stakeholders such as the U.S. Congress, the European Commission, and funders including the Gates Foundation. Over time, PLoS Biology intersected with initiatives like the Creative Commons licensing framework and influenced projects such as the Open Access Button and movements led by groups like the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition.

Scope and Editorial Policy

The journal covers a broad range of topics historically addressed by journals such as Cell, Nature Genetics, and The Lancet in the life sciences, including molecular biology, ecology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology. Its editorial policy reflects principles advocated by the Budapest Open Access Initiative, policy frameworks from the National Institutes of Health, and reporting standards promoted by organizations like the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the Committee on Publication Ethics. Editorial guidance references best practices similar to those of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and standards promulgated at conferences such as the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meetings and the Gordon Research Conferences. The journal has implemented transparency measures akin to guidelines from the World Health Organization and aligns with reporting checklists used by the CONSORT and PRISMA initiatives.

Publication Model and Open Access Practices

PLoS Biology operates on an article-processing charge model and uses Creative Commons licenses to permit reuse, paralleling licensing approaches promoted by the Open Knowledge Foundation and initiatives like the Budapest Open Access Initiative. The journal’s model engaged policy discussions involving funders such as the Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and national bodies like the Research Councils UK and the European Research Council. Its practices influenced platforms such as PubMed Central, repositories supported by the European Bioinformatics Institute, and infrastructure projects like CrossRef and ORCID. The journal’s approach was debated in forums convened by entities such as the Association of American Universities, the Max Planck Society, and the Royal Society.

Peer Review and Editorial Board

Peer review processes draw on conventions established in the scholarly publishing ecosystem, with input from editors and reviewers who often hold positions at institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Salk Institute. The editorial board has included scholars with affiliations to organizations such as the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, the Max Planck Society, the California Institute of Technology, and the Johns Hopkins University. The journal engages with peer review debates involving models championed by advocates at conferences including the Association for Computing Machinery and the Society for Neuroscience, and it has experimented with transparency measures echoing recommendations from the Committee on Publication Ethics and initiatives like the Center for Open Science.

Impact and Reception

PLoS Biology rapidly gained prominence alongside established outlets such as Nature, Science, and Cell, influencing citation patterns tracked by services like Clarivate Analytics and Scopus. Reception has been shaped by policy responses from funders including the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and by commentary in outlets such as the New York Times, the The Guardian, and professional forums hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The journal’s stance on open access contributed to broader shifts that involved institutions such as the European Commission and national funders like the National Institutes of Health. Critics and supporters have engaged through venues like the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers and meetings at institutions such as Harvard Medical School.

Notable Articles and Special Issues

The journal published influential papers on topics linked to projects and discoveries involving the Human Genome Project, the Drosophila melanogaster research community, and neuroscience work resonant with labs at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Salk Institute. Special issues and collections have intersected with initiatives such as the Earth System Science Partnership, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and policy dialogues involving the World Health Organization and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Notable articles received coverage in media outlets like Nature News, Science Magazine, and institutional communications from universities such as University of Cambridge and University of California, Berkeley.

Category:Open access journals Category:Biology journals Category:Public Library of Science journals