The primary function of Nature Biotechnology is to publish novel biological research papers that demonstrate the possibility of application in the pharmaceutical, medical, agricultural, and environmental sciences. An equally important function is to provide analysis of and commentary on the research we publish, as well as on the business, regulatory, and societal activities that influence this research. The first function is fulfilled by the peer-reviewed research section, the second by the expository efforts in the front of the journal. We provide biotechnology researchers with news about business; we provide the biotechnology business community with news about research developments.
The core areas in which we are actively seeking research papers include agricultural biotechnology (including engineering of disease/pest resistance and other agronomic traits; nutriceuticals); environmental biotechnology (bioremediation and biodiversity); applied immunology (antibody engineering, xenotransplantation technologies, stem cell therapies, T-cell therapies); genomics (bioinformatics, functional analysis); molecular engineering (combinatorial approaches and rational design); gene therapy (replacement, repair, antisense and ribozymes); and tissue engineering. For a comprehensive list of areas covered see Research areas of interest to Nature Biotechnology.
Conditions of Publication
PRESS COVERAGE Publication in Nature Biotechnology is conditional on there being no prior disclosure of the work to the media. Thus, authors should not give press conferences or otherwise encourage or cooperate with media coverage of submitted work, except on the understanding that the embargo will be respected. Failure to do so may prejudice further consideration of the manuscript. This policy is in no way intended to restrict legitimate scientific discussion, thus the presentation of results at scientific meetings (including the publication of brief abstracts) is acceptable, as is the deposition of data in electronic archives.
Once scheduled for publication, some contributions are selected by the editors for inclusion in the weekly press release. This provides a brief summary, together with contact details for the authors, and is distributed to the media a week before the publication date. Authors of accepted contributions scheduled for publication may also arrange their own publicity (for instance through their institutional press offices), but they must strictly adhere to our press embargo.
ADVANCE ONLINE PUBLICATION Note that Nature Biotechnology now supports Advance Online Publication (AOP) of research articles, which benefits authors with an earlier publication date and allows our readers access to accepted papers weeks before they are printed. Authors will be provided an estimated AOP publication date when the galley proofs are sent for preview. Note that papers published online are definitive and may be altered only through the publication of a print corrigendum or erratum. For details, please see the overview of advanced online publication.
COMPETING FINANCIAL INTERESTS In the interests of transparency, Nature Biotechnology now requires authors of research articles to declare any competing financial interests in relation to papers accepted for publication. For details, please see our policy.
MATERIALS As a condition of publication, authors are required to make materials and methods used freely available to academic researchers for their own use. Authors are required to state in the methods section any conditions for use of materials, and to provide full disclosure of the conditions on a freely accessible, identified web site.
This requirement includes antibodies and the constructs used to make transgenic animals, but not the animals themselves. Mutant strains of mice generated without the use of constructs must be submitted to a public repository at the time of publication, unless authors can ensure prompt distribution to academic researchers on request.
Papers reporting protein or DNA sequences and crystallographic structures will not be accepted without an accession number to GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ, Brookhaven, SWISS-PROT or other appropriate, identified, publicly available database in general use in the field that gives free access to researchers from the date of publication (see Nature 394, 105; 1998 and 404, 317; 2000). Accession numbers are provided directly to authors by these databases on deposition of data, and must be included in the Nature paper before publication. Microarray data should be made freely available to academic researchers on authors' own web sites or other freely available web site (the URL to be provided in the paper) until a public database is available.
MICROARRAYS Please see the MGED open letter specifying microarray standards at http://www.mged.org/Workgroups/MIAME/miame_checklist.html, and see Nature 419, 323; 2002 for explanation of the policies of the journal and the Nature family of journals. In brief, authors submitting manuscripts containing microarray data must supply the data on a CD at the time of submission. The data must be MIAME-compliant and supplied in a form that is widely accessible, with the completed MIAME checklist also placed on the CD. Five copies of the CD are required, so that they can be sent to referees. Nature Biotechnology also requires submission of microarray data to the GEO (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/) or ArrayExpress (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/) databases, with accession numbers at or before acceptance for publication. Data may be posted on the Nature Biotechnology website as Supplementary Information only by prior agreement, as generally we are unable to host very large Supplementary Information files.
Other supporting data sets must be made available to any interested reader on the publication date from the authors directly.
Researchers who encounter a persistent refusal by an author of a Nature paper to comply with these guidelines should contact the Editor of Nature Biotechnology, at biotech@natureny.com. (See Nature 416, 1; 2002.)
PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND UNPUBLISHED DATA If you cite personal communications or unpublished data from any individuals who are not authors of your manuscript, we require a written statement of permission from the primary investigator of each group cited. Please submit an appropriate permission letter(s) (printouts of email are acceptable) with your manuscript.
ANIMAL WELFARE AND INFORMED HUMAN CONSENT In cases where a study involves the use of live animals or human subjects, the Methods section of the manuscript should include a statement that all experiments were performed in compliance with the relevant laws and institutional guidelines, and should identify the institutional committee(s) that have approved the experiments. A statement should also be included that informed consent was obtained for any experimentation with human subjects. Referees may be asked to comment specifically on any cases in which concerns arise.
NOMENCLATURE Authors should make sure that they use appropriate nomenclature for gene symbols. Please consult the appropriate nomenclature committee for correct gene name and symbol. Approved human gene symbols are provided by HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC), e-mail: nome@galton.ucl.ac.uk; http://www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/nomenclature/. Approved mouse nomenclature are provided by The Jackson Laboratory, e-mail: nomen@informatics.jax.org; http://www.informatics.jax.org/mgihome/nomen/.
Authorship and Copyright
Submission is taken to imply that all coauthors have approved the contents of the manuscript and its submission by the corresponding author. (The corresponding author for editorial purposes need not be the senior author, or the person to whom correspondence is addressed after publication.) Statements of equal contribution from more than one author are permitted. The cover sheet of the manuscript should indicate the date of submission (or revision/resubmission). If the manuscript includes personal communications, please provide a written statement of permission from any person who is quoted. Printouts of e-mail permission messages are acceptable.
The Nature Publishing Group does not require authors to transfer their copyright. Instead, we ask for an exclusive licence. In return, authors will be free to reuse their papers in any of their future printed work, and have the right to post a copy of the published paper on their own web sites.
In addition, authors - and the institutions in which they work - will be free to use their papers in course packs.
For form and detailed explanation, click here. US government employees, click here.
How to Submit
Authors are invited to inquire about the editors' general level of interest concerning any proposed article or research manuscript by sending a presubmission inquiry. Inquiries should be sent to us through our electronic submission system (http://www.nature.com/nbt/esubmission/index.html). Detailed instructions for the preparation of these categories of articles are given below.
All contributors should bear in mind the diverse, interdisciplinary nature of the journal's readership. Write clearly and simply, and avoid unnecessary technical terminology. Space in the journal is limited, and brevity is highly valued. One printed page of Nature Biotechnology, without display items, contains about 1,000 words.
We prefer to receive manuscript submissions via our electronic submission website (http://www.nature.com/nbt/esubmission/index.html). Using this system, authors can upload manuscript files (text, figures and video) directly to our office and check on the status of their manuscripts during the review process. In addition, reviewers can access the contents of a manuscript (in a highly secure fashion) over a direct internet link, which speeds the review process.
Submission to Nature Biotechnology is taken to imply that there is no significant overlap between the submitted manuscript and any other papers under consideration or in press elsewhere.
Types of Contributions
PRIMARY RESEARCH FORMATS An Article is a substantial novel research study. The main text (excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends) is approximately 3000 words. Titles should be simple and concise, no more than 15 words. The abstract is typically 150 words, unreferenced. Articles have 6 display items (figures and/or tables). An introduction (without heading) is followed by sections headed Results, Discussion and Methods. The Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion may contain subheadings at the editors¡¯ discretion. References are limited to 50.
Articles include a competing financial interests statement and received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Articles are peer reviewed.
Nature Biotechnology aims to publish high-quality original research that describes the development and application of new technologies in the biological, pharmaceutical, biomedical, agricultural and environmental sciences, and which promise to find real-world applications in academia or industry. We also have a strong interest in research that describes the application of existing technologies to new problems or challenges, and basic research that reports novel findings that are directly relevant and/or of interest to those who develop biology into technology. For a comprehensive list of areas covered, see Research areas of interest to Nature Biotechnology.
Manuscripts are selected for publication according to editorial assessment of their suitability, range of interest, and reports from independent referees. Manuscripts should be accompanied by a cover letter describing the originality and potential application of the research. Receipt of all manuscripts will be acknowledged with minimum delay. Manuscripts selected for possible publication will undergo peer review by two or more referees. Authors are encouraged to suggest potential referees, as well as inform the Research Editor of potential conflicts of interest. Decisions concerning publication of manuscripts in Nature Biotechnology are made separately from decisions about Nature's content. Authors of papers previously considered by Nature but ultimately not accepted are welcome to resubmit to Nature Biotechnology, where they will receive prompt further consideration.
A Letter reports a novel research result, but is less substantial than an Article. Letters describe significant technical advances that improve efficiency or utility of a methodology of general interest to a broad spectrum of readers. This format begins with an introductory paragraph (not abstract) of approximately 150 words, summarizing the background, rationale, main results and implications, followed directly by the results and discussion (no section headings). The introductory paragraph should be referenced, as in Nature style, and should be considered part of main text, so that any subsequent introductory material avoids too much redundancy with the introductory paragraph. The text is limited to 1500 words, excluding the introductory paragraph, Methods, References and tables/figure legends. References are limited to 30. Letters should have no more than 2-3 display items (figures/tables). Letters are not divided by headings, except for the Methods heading.
Letters include a competing financial interests statement and received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Letters are peer reviewed.
A Brief Communication reports a study of high quality and broad interest that is less fully developed than a Letter or Article. This format may only in exceptional circumstances exceed 2 printed pages. Brief Communications begin with a brief unreferenced abstract (no more than 70 words or 3 sentences), which will appear on Medline. The main text is typically 1,000-1,500 words, including abstract, references and figure legends, and contains no headings. Brief Communications normally have no more than 2 display items (figures/tables), although this may be flexible at the discretion of the editor, provided the page limit is observed. References are limited to 15. Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
Brief Communications include a competing financial interests statement and received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Brief Communications are peer reviewed.
OTHER FORMATS Correspondence (formerly Letters to the Editor) is a flexible format that may include anything of interest to the journal¡¯s readers, from policy debates to announcements to ¡®matters arising¡¯ from research papers. Although letters concerning material published in Nature Biotechnology are welcome, letters can address any subject of biotechnological relevance. A Correspondence may describe primary research data, but only in summary form; this format is not intended for full presentation of data. The emphasis is on brevity and topicality. Correspondence should never be more than one printed page, and usually much less. References from a Correspondence and its Reply are combined into a single list, numbered in order of appearance and placed at the end of the Reply. The number of references should not exceed 10 for either the Correspondence or its Reply. Titles are supplied by the editors.
Correspondence is the only section of the journal that may include replies from people whose views or findings are being criticized. Authors whose primary research data are being criticized should normally have the right of public reply. Criticism of opinions or other secondary matter do not involve an automatic right of reply.
Except for refutations, Correspondence is not normally peer reviewed (although it may be at the editors¡¯ discretion).
A Review is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even-handed way. Reviews are normally 3,000-4,000 words, and illustrations are strongly encouraged. References are limited to 100, with exceptions possible in special cases. Citations should be selective. The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors¡¯ own work.
A competing financial interests statement is optional, at the authors¡¯ discretion. Received/accepted dates are not included. Reviews are always peer reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance.
Commentary is a very flexible format, focusing on the scientific, commercial, ethical, policy, or societal issues surrounding biotechnology research. They should be provocative, introduce new concepts/points of view, and be topical and readable, providing a personal perspective on a biotechnology-based matter of public/scientific importance. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. In contrast to a Review, publication as a Commentary does not imply editorial endorsement of the authors¡¯ opinions. Their length is typically 1-4 pages, although some may be longer. Because the content is variable, the format is also flexible. Commentaries do not contain primary research data, although they may present ¡®sociological¡¯ data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.). References should be used sparingly (10-25), and article titles are omitted from the reference list.
The related format Historical Commentary is a journalistic treatment of the history of a particular discovery or technical development. These pieces may be a personal account by one of the participants or may present strong personal opinions. This format does not necessarily seek scholarly balance, and it should be journalistic and accessible rather than scholarly in style.
A competing financial interests statement is optional, at the authors¡¯ discretion, although authors are encouraged to indicate their affiliations. Commentaries may be peer reviewed at the editors¡¯ discretion.
Perspective is a new format for scholarly reviews and discussions of the primary research literature that are too technical for a Commentary but do not meet the criteria for a Review¡ªeither because the scope is too narrow, or because the author is advocating a controversial position or a speculative hypothesis or discussing his/her own work. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy are normally published as Perspectives. The text should not normally exceed 3000 words. References are limited to 100.
The related format Historical Perspective is a more technical account of a particular scientific development. Like other Perspectives, and in contrast to Historical Commentary, Historical Perspectives are scholarly reviews, including citation of key references, aiming to present a balanced account of the historical events, not merely personal opinions or reminiscences.
A competing financial interests statement is optional, at authors¡¯ discretion. Received/accepted dates are not included. Perspectives are always peer reviewed.
Feature articles encompass both the technical and commercial aspects of biotechnology. They are intended not only to complement the emerging scientific developments reported in the research section, but also to provide a forum for regulatory and business topics that would otherwise not be covered in the journal. Articles are generally no more than 3,000 words, should be well illustrated with tables and figures, and are written in a journalistic style accessible to a wide range of nonspecialist readers. Nature Biotechnology welcomes submissions of ideas for future feature topics (biotech@natureny.com).
Patents articles offer Nature Biotechnology's readership expert insight and analysis of the legal issues that pertain to biotechnology, including patenting, licensing, and technology transfer. Written by specialists in the field, they are an informative guide to the legal aspects of biotechnology research and industry. Nature Biotechnology welcomes submissions of ideas for future feature topics (biotech@natureny.com).
Careers and recruitment articles encompass training, career development, hiring issues and the biotechnology job market. Nature Biotechnology welcomes submissions of ideas for future feature topics (biotech@natureny.com).
Digital Figures and Their Submission
Please indicate on submission whether artwork is available in digital format, but do not send digital files until your manuscript has been accepted.
When possible, we prefer to use original digital figures to ensure the highest quality reproduction in the journal. When creating and submitting digital files, please follow the guidelines below. Always send two sets of high quality printouts of your figures along with your accepted manuscript in the event that we cannot use your digital files. If you have any further questions, please contact our Production Department at (212) 726 9349; fax (212) 696 9751; e-mail: m.sokoloff@natureny.com.
Proofs: Within a few weeks after acceptance of your final manuscript, you will receive galley proofs for corrections. As editorial changes will have been made to ensure clarity, proofs should be examined very carefully. The Editors may have suggested certain areas that warrant updating or revising on the proofs. Corrected proofs should be faxed or emailed back to the Production Editor as soon as possible.
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