PLOS Biology

PLOS Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science with the support of National Institutes of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The journal is part of the Public Library of Science family, which also includes PLOS Medicine, PLOS Computational Biology, and PLOS Genetics. The journal's editorial board consists of prominent scientists such as Nobel Prize winners Eric Wieschaus and Elizabeth Blackburn, as well as National Academy of Sciences members like David Julius and Susan Lindquist. The journal's articles are archived in PubMed Central and indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

Introduction

PLOS Biology is an open-access journal that publishes original research articles, reviews, and commentary on all aspects of biology, including cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, evolutionary biology, ecology, and biophysics. The journal's scope is broad, covering topics from DNA replication and gene expression to ecosystem ecology and conservation biology. The journal's authors include renowned scientists such as James Watson, Francis Crick, and Rosalind Franklin, as well as emerging researchers from institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The journal's articles are often cited in other prominent scientific journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell.

History

PLOS Biology was launched in 2003 by the Public Library of Science, a non-profit organization founded by Patrick Brown, Michael Eisen, and Harold Varmus. The journal's first issue was published in October 2003, with Wayne Franklin as its founding editor-in-chief. Since its inception, the journal has published over 10,000 articles, including research papers, reviews, and commentary from scientists at institutions like University of California, Berkeley, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. The journal has also partnered with other organizations, such as the National Science Foundation and the European Molecular Biology Organization, to promote open-access publishing and advance scientific research.

Scope

PLOS Biology publishes original research articles, reviews, and commentary on all aspects of biology, including biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, developmental biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, and plant biology. The journal's scope is international, with authors from institutions like University of Tokyo, University of Sydney, and University of Toronto. The journal's articles often feature research on model organisms, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and Mus musculus, as well as studies on Homo sapiens and other species. The journal's research areas also include cancer biology, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, with contributions from scientists like David Baltimore and Phillip Sharp.

Publication_process

The publication process for PLOS Biology involves a rigorous peer-review system, with manuscripts reviewed by at least two independent experts in the field. The journal's editorial board, which includes scientists like Bruce Alberts and Nancy Hopkins, oversees the review process and makes final decisions on manuscript acceptance. The journal publishes articles online, with a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) assigned to each article. The journal's articles are also archived in PubMed Central and indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The journal's publication process is supported by the Public Library of Science's publishing platform, which also hosts other journals like PLOS Medicine and PLOS Computational Biology.

Impact_and_reception

PLOS Biology has a significant impact on the scientific community, with an impact factor of 7.981, according to Journal Citation Reports. The journal's articles are widely cited, with over 100,000 citations per year, according to Google Scholar. The journal's research has been featured in prominent media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC News. The journal's open-access model has also been recognized as a leader in the scientific publishing industry, with awards from organizations like the Association of American Publishers and the Society for Scholarly Publishing. The journal's authors include prominent scientists like Craig Venter and Francis Collins, who have made significant contributions to fields like genomics and personalized medicine.

Editorial_policies

PLOS Biology's editorial policies prioritize open-access publishing, with all articles available online without subscription or access fees. The journal also has a strong commitment to transparency, with detailed information on the peer-review process and editorial decisions. The journal's editors, including Gavin Yamey and Cynthia Chang, work to ensure that all articles meet the highest standards of scientific quality and integrity. The journal also has policies in place to address issues like research misconduct and conflict of interest, with procedures for investigating and resolving allegations. The journal's editorial policies are guided by the principles of the Budapest Open Access Initiative and the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities.