Journal profile · EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY-GENETICS & HEREDITY
Genome Biology and Evolution
ISSN 1759-6653 · Oxford University Press · ENGLAND · Annual · Founded 2009
Genome Biology and Evolution: CAS Zone 3 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.3; fully open access; APC about USD 2,714; review about 3 months (community reports); 248 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Genome Biology and Evolution is published by Oxford University Press and is in Zone 3 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies, Chromosomal and Genetic Variations and Genetic diversity and population structure, together about 41.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Genome Biology and Evolution (GBE) publishes leading original research at the interface between evolutionary biology and genomics. Papers considered for publication report novel evolutionary findings that concern natural genome diversity, population genomics, the structure, function, organisation and expression of genomes, comparative genomics, proteomics, and environmental genomic interactions. Major evolutionary insights from the fields of computational biology, structural biology, developmental biology, and cell biology are also considered, as are theoretical advances in the field of genome evolution. GBE's scope embraces genome-wide evolutionary investigations at all taxonomic levels and for all forms of life — within populations or across domains. Its aims are to further the understanding of genomes in their evolutionary context and further the understanding of evolution from a genome-wide perspective. GBE is owned by the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE). Motivated by the continued growth of the field, SMBE conducted a grass-roots survey in 2007 to investigate the needs of the field regarding new publication outlets. The survey elicited a resounding response from members of SMBE and other scientists in the fields of genomics and molecular evolution. The key findings from that survey were that the field wanted an online only journal that was devoted specifically to the areas of genome evolution and comparative genomics and that was published under an Open Access model. The response of SMBE was to launch GBE in order to serve those needs of the field. The SMBE meeting attracts about 800 participants each year. As a reflection of the rapid growth of genomic technologies, about half of the science presented at each SMBE meeting is about genomics. With the help of the evolutionary expertise that is gathered in SMBE, GBE is positioned and designed to set the highest standards for papers in the growing field of evolutionary genomics. Join our prestigious author community. Refer to our reasons to submit and author guidelines for further information. Founding Editors Takashi Gojobori National Institute of Genetics Mishima Japan William Martin Institute of Molecular Evolution University of Duesseldorf Universitaetsstr. 1 40225 Duesseldorf Germany Abstracting and Indexing GBE is covered by the following services: Biochemistry & Biophysics Citation Index® Biological Abstracts Biotechnology Citation Index® CAB Abstracts Chemical Abstracts Current
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY-GENETICS & HEREDITY
Editor-in-chief Laura A. KatzPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 3 in mainland China (about 4%); most named United States 21, United Kingdom 10, France 8, Mexico 6, Taiwan, China 5 (76 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Genomics and Phylogenetic StudiesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology21.7%
- Chromosomal and Genetic VariationsAgricultural and Biological Sciences10.2%
- Genetic diversity and population structureBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology9.6%
- Evolution and Genetic DynamicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.3%
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.5%
- Protist diversity and phylogenyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.9%
- Microbial Community Ecology and PhysiologyEnvironmental Science3.9%
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influencesAgricultural and Biological Sciences3.8%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
EmbaseCASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.3LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.3Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher)
- 3.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.27LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.91LetPub ·
- h-index
- 60LetPub ·
- h-index
- 140OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 2,774OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.88OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 100%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 235LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 4,079 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 243 | 243 | 147 |
| 2025 | 248 | 248 | 674 |
| 2024 | 280 | 280 | 2,169 |
| 2023 | 239 | 239 | 2,961 |
| 2022 | 187 | 187 | 3,181 |
| 2021 | 294 | 294 | 6,037 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
Too few articlesOnly 8 articles from the last 24 months carry both submission and acceptance dates, too few for a median
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 9 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Unspecified peer reviewDOAJ
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Fully open accessDOAJ
Every article is open access; authors usually pay an article processing charge (APC).
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | USD 2,714 | Yes | CC BY, CC BY-NC | |
| OpenAlex | USD 2,850 | — | — | |
| LetPub | USD 2,714 | Yes | — | |
| Publisher website | No APC | — | — |
Other charges and waivers (author guidelines)
- Page charges
- USD 3,625
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare9 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≤ 6
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 10,000 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX
- Suggested reviewers
- Required
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted5
- correspondenceGBE considers the following kinds of manuscripts: Articles Letters Methods Perspectives Reviews Genome Resources Manuscript type Words in abstract Words in sign…Length not stated
- letterGBE considers the following kinds of manuscripts: Articles Letters Methods Perspectives Reviews Genome Resources Manuscript type Words in abstract Words in sign…Length not stated
- methods paperGBE considers the following kinds of manuscripts: Articles Letters Methods Perspectives Reviews Genome Resources Manuscript type Words in abstract Words in sign…Length not stated
- perspectiveGBE considers the following kinds of manuscripts: Articles Letters Methods Perspectives Reviews Genome Resources Manuscript type Words in abstract Words in sign…Length not stated
- reviewGBE considers the following kinds of manuscripts: Articles Letters Methods Perspectives Reviews Genome Resources Manuscript type Words in abstract Words in sign…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Preprints
- AI use Publication Ethics and the Use of AI
In order to guarantee a consistent policy for review and publication, GBE follows COPE’s Core Practices. These guidelines describe the responsibilities and expected conduct not only of authors, but also of the editors and reviewers. Artificial Intelligence The use of AI (e.g. to create content or images, generate complex code, process data or modify language) is strongly discouraged. Any use of AI…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship
All persons designated as authors should qualify for authorship following principles outlined by COPE. Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content. The order of authorship should be a joint decision of the co-authors. Authorship credit should be based on substantial contribution to conception and design, execution, or analysis and int…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Conflict of Interest
At the stage of online submission, GBE’s policy requires that each author reveal any financial interests or connections, direct or indirect, or other situations that might raise the question of bias in the work reported or the conclusions, implications, or opinions stated - including pertinent commercial or other sources of funding for the individual author(s) or for the associated department(s) o…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Availability of Data and Materials
GBE requires all authors, where ethically possible, to publicly release all data underlying any published paper as a condition of publication, and to follow FAIR principles such that the data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. Authors are required to include a Data Availability Statement in their article. We require that data be presented in the main manuscript or additional sup…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Publication Ethics and the Use of AI
In order to guarantee a consistent policy for review and publication, GBE follows COPE’s Core Practices. These guidelines describe the responsibilities and expected conduct not only of authors, but also of the editors and reviewers. Artificial Intelligence The use of AI (e.g. to create content or images, generate complex code, process data or modify language) is strongly discouraged. Any use of AI…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Upon receipt of accepted manuscripts at Oxford Journals authors will be invited to complete an online copyright license to publish form. Please note that by submitting an article for publication you confirm that you are the corresponding/submitting author and that Oxford University Press ("OUP") may retain your email address for the purpose of communicating with you about the article. You agree to…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Publication Charges and Open Access
Genome Biology and Evolution is a fully open access journal, and all articles are published in the journal under an open access license immediately upon publication. You will need to pay an open access charge to publish under an open access license. Details of the open access licenses and open access charges. Journal (required) Please select Academic MedicineActa CytologicaActa HaematologicaAdapta…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Submitting your bioRxiv preprint to the journal
You can submit your bioRxiv preprint directly from the bioRxiv server to Genome Biology and Evolution. To do this, visit the Author Area in bioRxiv and select Genome Biology and Evolution from the list of options. This will transfer all manuscript files and author information to Genome Biology and Evolution. You will then receive an email with a link to your submission in Genome Biology and Evolut…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Annual
- Founded
- 2009
- ISSN
- 1759-6653
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 18, Issue 9 (September 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Aims & Scope ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗LetPub
- Editorial board ↗LetPub
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Genome Biology and Evolution
What CAS zone is Genome Biology and Evolution in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Genome Biology and Evolution is in Zone 3 of Biology, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Genetics & Heredity / Evolutionary Biology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Genome Biology and Evolution?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.3; CiteScore 5, h-index 140.
How long does peer review take at Genome Biology and Evolution?
Authors report an average review time of about 3 months. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Genome Biology and Evolution?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≤ 6; Manuscript length: ≤ 10,000 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX; Suggested reviewers: Required; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Genome Biology and Evolution based?
Of the 76 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 3 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (21), United Kingdom (10) and France (8). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Genome Biology and Evolution?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Genome Biology and Evolution is indexed in SCIE, Scopus and DOAJ. The journal's website also lists Embase, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Genome Biology and Evolution open access, and what is the APC?
Genome Biology and Evolution is a fully open-access journal. APC about USD 2,714.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, DOAJ, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .