Nucleic Acids Research, 2002, Vol. 30, No. 22 4813
© 2002 Oxford University Press
EDITORIAL
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CHANGES TO THE CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION |
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 TOP CHANGES TO THE CRITERIA... |
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A distinctive feature of NAR is that the Editors, with advice from the Editorial Board, not only consider constantly both the scope of the Journal and the standards required in each particular area, but also summarise these requirements in written ‘Criteria for Consideration’. These Criteria act as a checkpoint for authors in preparing manuscripts as well as a guide for referees in manuscript assessment. Regular revisions to the Criteria have helped to raise publication standards and boost the standing of NAR, as evidenced by a significant increase in the impact factor over recent years. This year attention has been given to Criteria revisions in several subject areas and these are shown below (to access the full Criteria for Consideration, visit http://www3.oup.co.uk/nar/instauth/auth6.html). The changes reflect a slight broadening of the scope of NAR with regard to chemistry, whilst maintaining the need for relevance to nucleic acid structure or biology. Manuscripts dealing with gene control agents (such as antisense and RNAi) or in vitro selection are also encouraged, especially those that address molecular or cellular mechanisms or which have novel applications. Finally, the recent burgeoning of Genomics manuscripts has prompted some more precise Criteria, including definitions of the boundaries between standard manuscripts and Methods Online for manuscripts involving microarray data.
Chemical synthesis
The Journal encourages manuscripts describing:
• chemical synthesis of novel oligonucleotide analogues and their physical characterisation where there is a clear and potentially useful biological or structural application;
• novel chemistry applied to nucleic acids (e.g. array technology, cross-linking and modifying agents) that includes a demonstration of a significant biological application;
• chemical synthesis of novel nucleoside or nucleotide analogues where there is a significant and potentially useful application relating to oligonucleotide or nucleic acids structure or function.
NOTE: manuscripts dealing with improvements in array technology or array data handling that do not include novel chemistry will be considered for publication under current Methods papers guidelines (see ‘Organisation of the Journal and general policies of NAR’) and will generally be considered for publication in NAR Methods Online.
Antisense, ribozymes, RNA interference and other gene control reagents
The Journal encourages manuscripts describing:
• novel nucleic acid analogues, combinations and conjugates where there is a demonstrated antisense, ribozyme, RNAi or other significant biological effect or application, particularly those that focus on mechanisms of action;
• in vivo or cell delivery and localisation of nucleic acids and their analogues that are based on novel principles or which cast new light on cellular or tissue uptake mechanisms.
In vitro nucleic acid selection
The Journal encourages manuscripts describing in vitro selection of RNA or DNA or their analogues from random pools (aptamers, selex) that include substantial new information or which have novel applications relevant to nucleic acid structure or function, or to proteins that interact with nucleic acids.
NOTE: manuscripts dealing with improvements in nucleic acid selection methodology will be considered under current Methods papers guidelines (see ‘Organisation of the Journal and general policies of NAR’) and will generally be considered for publication in NAR Methods Online.
Genomics
Manuscripts are primarily in two categories. (i) Genome analysis, either complete chromosomal or genomic sequences or comparative genomics. Both genome analysis and comparative studies should contain novel biological information, such as RNA structure–function relationships, proteins that interact with nucleic acids, or genome evolution. (ii) Those that apply whole genomic approaches to the analysis of gene regulation (e.g. array and proteomic technologies). Such papers must provide novel insights into biological problems and provide evidence to corroborate and validate hypotheses that have been generated using whole genomic approaches. Purely descriptive accounts of microarray data are not acceptable.
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