Journal profile · Evolutionary Biology
Journal of Molecular Evolution
ISSN 0022-2844 · eISSN 1432-1432 · Springer US · GERMANY · Monthly · Founded 1971
Journal of Molecular Evolution: CAS Zone 4 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.02; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,090; median 148 days to acceptance (93 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 5%; 70 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Molecular Evolution is published by Springer US and is in Zone 4 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, RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms and Genetic diversity and population structure, together about 43.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology and Genetics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Journal of Molecular Evolution covers experimental, computational, and theoretical work aimed at deciphering features of molecular evolution and the processes bearing on these features, from the initial formation of macromolecular systems through their evolution at the molecular level, the co-evolution of their functions in cellular and organismal systems, and their influence on organismal adaptation, speciation, and ecology. Topics addressed include the evolution of informational macromolecules and their relation to more complex levels of biological organization, including populations and taxa, as well as the molecular basis for the evolution of ecological interactions of species and the use of molecular data to infer fundamental processes in evolutionary ecology. This coverage accommodates such subfields as new genome sequences, comparative structural and functional genomics, population genetics, the molecular evolution of development, the evolution of gene regulation and gene interaction networks, and in vitro evolution of DNA and RNA, molecular evolutionary ecology, and the development of methods and theory that enable molecular evolutionary inference, including but not limited to, phylogenetic methods. Journal of Molecular Evolution is currently soliciting mini-reviews of 2000-3000 words and 1-3 Figures. Established scientists working in the field of molecular evolution should write short proposals of 300 words or less, explaining their putative mini-review, and send it to both Senior Editor Aaron Goldman (Aaron.Goldman@oberlin.edu) and Editor-in-Chief David Liberles (jme1@temple.edu). Upon receipt of these proposals, a decision will be made about encouraging formal submission of the mini-review.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Evolutionary Biology
Editor-in-chief David LiberlesPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 25%); most named Mainland China 1, United States 1, Canada 1, Croatia 1 (4 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 Biology19.8%
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology17.2%
- Genetic diversity and population structureBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.5%
- Chromosomal and Genetic VariationsAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.7%
- Origins and Evolution of LifePhysics and Astronomy5.5%
- Evolution and Genetic DynamicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.5%
- RNA modifications and cancerBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology3.5%
- Photosynthetic Processes and MechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology3.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINECASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
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
- 2.02LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.5LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.74LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.56LetPub ·
- h-index
- 117LetPub ·
- h-index
- 211OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,969OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.24OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 41.58%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 57LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 443,800Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 5,354 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 56 | 29 | 16 |
| 2025 | 70 | 40 | 273 |
| 2024 | 75 | 36 | 362 |
| 2023 | 65 | 34 | 643 |
| 2022 | 45 | 21 | 438 |
| 2021 | 61 | 31 | 1,056 |
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 Crossref · to
148 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 110 days – 229 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 17 days (93 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 168 days
- Sample
- 93 articles with submission and acceptance dates (143 in the window); the latest was accepted on
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 ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 5%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
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
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,090 / EUR 3,090 / GBP 2,690 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
Other charges and waivers (author guidelines)
- Page charges
- For color in the print version, authors will be expected to make a contribution towards the extra costs.
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 prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted13, with length limits
- articles• Articles. These are standard research articles conveying new research findings, of empirical, theoretical, or computational nature, relevant to the mechanisms…Length not stated
- commentaries• Commentaries. These are unsolicited perspective pieces in response to a single article in Journal of Molecular Evolution or another journal or more broadly st…Length not stated
- commentaryJournal of Molecular Evolution will consider manuscripts of the following types: • Articles. These are standard research articles conveying new research finding…Length not stated
- letterJournal of Molecular Evolution will consider manuscripts of the following types: • Articles. These are standard research articles conveying new research finding…Length not stated
- letter-to-the-editor• Letter-to-the-editor. These are short manuscripts containing either a research finding, new or improved tools, or a comment on molecular evolution in the broa…Length not stated
- opinionJournal of Molecular Evolution will consider manuscripts of the following types: • Articles. These are standard research articles conveying new research finding…Length not stated
- perspectiveJournal of Molecular Evolution will consider manuscripts of the following types: • Articles. These are standard research articles conveying new research finding…Length not stated
- random walking• “Random Walking”. These are short (1000 words or fewer) solicited opinion-column type manuscripts by an editor of Journal of Molecular Evolution to scientists…Length not stated
- reviewJournal of Molecular Evolution will consider manuscripts of the following types: • Articles. These are standard research articles conveying new research finding…Length not stated
- reviews• Reviews. These are more comprehensive reviews of major topics in molecular evolution. They can be greater than 3000 words and are not limited in terms of the …Length not stated
- short reviewJournal of Molecular Evolution will consider manuscripts of the following types: • Articles. These are standard research articles conveying new research finding…main text ≤ 3,000 words
- short reviews• Short Reviews. These are reviews of a topic of current interest to the field. Short reviews should contain fewer than 3000 words and only one or two display i…Length not stated
- standard research articleJournal of Molecular Evolution will consider manuscripts of the following types: • Articles. These are standard research articles conveying new research finding…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access
- AI use Generative AI Images
LLMs do not satisfy authorship criteria; AI-assisted copy editing need not be declared Model summary
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
Competing interests disclosure required Model summary
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data availability statement required for all original research Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Molecular Evolution, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
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
- Springer US
- Country or region
- GERMANY
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1971
- ISSN
- 0022-2844
- Electronic ISSN
- 1432-1432
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 94, Issue 4 (August 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Molecular Evolution
What CAS zone is Journal of Molecular Evolution in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Molecular Evolution is in Zone 4 of Biology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Evolutionary Biology / Genetics & Heredity. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Molecular Evolution?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.02; CiteScore 3.5, h-index 211.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Molecular Evolution?
Based on the dates recorded on 93 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 148 days (interquartile range 110–229 days); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 5%”. 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 Journal of Molecular Evolution?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional. 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 Journal of Molecular Evolution based?
Of the 4 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 25%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (1), United States (1) and Canada (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Molecular Evolution?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Molecular Evolution is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Molecular Evolution open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Molecular Evolution is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,090.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, 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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .