Public Library of Science to Launch New Open Access Journal for the Genetics and Genomics Community
| Date: January 6, 2005 | 
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PLoS Genetics Accepting Submissions at www.plosgenetics.org
San Francisco, Calif. - The Public Library of Science (PLoS) today announces the launch of PLoS Genetics, an international open access, peer-reviewed journal. The journal began accepting submissions in January at www.plosgenetics.org, and commences publication in July, 2005. PLoS Genetics aims to address genetics and genomics research with a breadth that includes human studies as well as research on all model organisms.
The techniques of genetics and genomics are applied to a wealth of biological questions and experimental systems. The sequencing of DNA, technological innovation, and the compilation of genetics data has enabled genomics to emerge as an important field, revolutionizing the life sciences. The revolution goes beyond enhancing the study of inheritance, to directly addressing questions about basic biological mechanisms, by using genetic approaches. PLoS Genetics reflects the full breadth and interdisciplinary nature of genetics and genomics research, publishing outstanding original contributions in all areas of biology.
"PLoS Genetics presents a balanced understanding of genomics and genetics, publishing papers that provide important biological insights, as well as papers on transforming tools and technologies that serve to revitalize genetics in a multi-system environment," states Wayne Frankel, Editor-in-Chief and Senior Staff Scientist at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. "Papers published in PLoS Genetics are chosen most importantly for their ability to drive the field forward."
PLoS Genetics publishes human studies as well as research on model organisms-from mice and flies, to plants and bacteria. Topics include gene discovery and function, population genetics, genome projects, comparative and functional genomics, medical genetics, cancer biology, evolution, gene expression, complex traits, chromosome biology, and epigenetics. Coupled with immediate free access to all content, PLoS Genetics provides a unique venue for publishing genetics and genomics research, ensuring that authors reach the widest possible audience.
"The Public Library of Science is delighted that such an outstanding group of scientists in the field of genetics and genomics are launching PLoS Genetics," states Dr. Michael Eisen, co-founder of PLoS. "This journal is among a new generation of open-access journals that serves the scientific community without the subscription barriers that block access to so many important journals in the field. We believe this community can lead the way in developing innovative ways to make use of the growing library of freely available scientific discoveries, and continue to propel the genomics and genetics revolution forward."
In order to make important scientific discoveries openly accessible online within a sustainable publishing model, PLoS believes that the cost of publication should be treated as an integral component of the cost of doing research. The authors of each research article published in PLoS Computational Biology are asked to pay $1,500 from their grants, or directly from their funders or institutions. That charge is waived for any authors who say they cannot afford it, through a process that cannot influence editorial decisions. In many cases, publications charges are reduced or waived through PLoS Institutional Memberships and foundation grants.
"In launching PLoS Genetics, PLoS Computational Biology with the ISCB, and PLoS Pathogens, the Public Library of Science is taking its first steps to collaborating directly with important scientific communities and their societies," says PLoS Executive Director Vivian Siegel. "PLoS is deeply committed to creating open-access venues for all quality research, and to providing an open-access publishing model that scientists, their societies and other publishers can adapt for their own journals."
As an important move to further the PLoS commitment to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource, PLoS is seeking partnerships, collaborations and field expertise within scientific communities and societies to inspire and facilitate the launch of open access initiatives. Community journals are a large part of this strategy, which features PLoS Computational Biology (www.ploscompbiol.org) published in partnership with the International Society for Computational Biology, and PLoS Pathogens to be launched later in 2005.
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The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical research a public resource. PLoS publishes open-access journals of original peer-reviewed research, including PLoS Biology and PLoS Medicine, which are available at no cost to anyone in the world with a connection to the Internet. More information can be found at www.plos.org and www.plosgenetics.org.
Contact(s):
Cynthia Blair, Public Library of Science, 415-624-1218, cblair@plos.org
For information on automatic email delivery of news releases (journalists only), please send an email request for details to news@jax.org.
Media Relations, Communications Office
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1500
Phone: 207-288-6051
Fax: 207-288-6076
Email: news@jax.org
