Journal profile · Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Biology and Evolution
ISSN 0737-4038 · eISSN 1537-1719 · Oxford University Press · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1983
Molecular Biology and Evolution: CAS Zone 1 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 6.36; fully open access; APC about USD 3,255; median 139 days to acceptance (88 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: hard; 350 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Molecular Biology and Evolution is published by Oxford University Press and is in Zone 1 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies, Genetic diversity and population structure and RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms, together about 43.3% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology and Genetics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Evolution is the most fundamental of biological processes, essential for life in a changing world. MBE publishes fresh insights into the patterns and processes that impact the evolution of life at molecular levels, across a full breadth of taxonomy, genomic organization, and functions, forms, and phenotypes. MBE's Methods, Resource, and Protocol sections provide our community with cutting edge evolutionary research tools that enable discovery, while our Reviews and Perspectives present syntheses to inspire new directions in evolutionary thought. MBE is entirely owned by The Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE) . The SMBE Council appoints the Editor-in-Chief. The Journal is published by Oxford University Press. Join our prestigious author community. Refer to our reasons to submit and author guidelines for further information. MBE is now fully Open Access MBE has transitioned to full Open Access, with all papers free to access from 1 January 2021. All articles accepted for publication from 1 August 2020 will be published as Open Access and will be subject to an Article Processing Charge (APC). Find out more on our Open Access page. Impact Factor and Ranking Year Impact Factor Si: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Si: Evolutionary Biology Si: Genetics & Heredity 2024 5.3 66 out of 319 7 out of 53 24 out of 191 2023 11.0 16 out of 313 4 out of 54 8 out of 191 2022 10.7 25 out of 285 4 out of 52 9 out of 171 2021 8.800 39 out of 296 5 out of 51 15 out of 175 2020 16.240 9 out of 297 2 out of 50 5 out of 175 2019 11.062 18 out of 297 4 out of 51 7 out of 178 2018 14.797 5 out of 299 2 out of 50 4 out of 174 2017 10.217 14 out of 293 2 out of 49 6 out of 171 2016 6.202 37 out of 290 5 out of 48 15 out of 167 2015 13.649 5 out of 289 2 out of 46 4 out of 166 2014 9.105 21 out of 290 4 out of 46 10 out of 167 2013 14.308 6 out of 291 2 out of 46 5 out of 165 2012 10.353 14 out of 290 4 out of 47 8 out of 161 2011 5.550 43 out of 290 4 out of 45 20 out of 158 2010 5.510 49 out of 286 7 out of 45 20 out of 156 2009 9.872 17 out of 283 2 out of 45 9 out of 146 2008 7.280 27 out of 275 4 out of 39 12 out of 138 2007 6.438 33 out of 263 4 out of 35 15 out of 132 2006 6.726 31 out of 262 4 out of 35 16 out of 131 Source: Journal Impact Factor™ 2024, from Clarivate, 2025 Abstracting and Indexing The journal is covered by the following services: Abstracts in Anthropology Abstracts on Hygiene and Communicable Diseases Agbiotech News and Information Agroforestry
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Evolutionary Biology
Editor-in-chief Brandon GautPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 15 in mainland China (about 19%); most named United States 27, Mainland China 15, United Kingdom 6, Brazil 5, Japan 3 (81 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 Biology20.9%
- Genetic diversity and population structureBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology14.1%
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8.3%
- Chromosomal and Genetic VariationsAgricultural and Biological Sciences8.2%
- Evolution and Genetic DynamicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8.1%
- Protist diversity and phylogenyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology3.1%
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and AnimalsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology2.9%
- Evolution and Paleontology StudiesEarth and Planetary Sciences2.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Evolutionary Biology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
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
- 6.36LetPub ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 9.9LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.61LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.09LetPub ·
- h-index
- 197LetPub ·
- h-index
- 331OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 7,660OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 9.11OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 100%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 317LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 9,581 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 243 | 243 | 590 |
| 2025 | 350 | 350 | 1,753 |
| 2024 | 269 | 269 | 5,511 |
| 2023 | 283 | 283 | 5,913 |
| 2022 | 284 | 284 | 9,673 |
| 2021 | 372 | 372 | 48,635 |
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
139 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 103 days – 189 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 10 days (6 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 144 days
- Sample
- 88 articles with submission and acceptance dates (626 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 1 monthLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- HardLetPub ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 16 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous 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 3,255 | Yes | CC BY, CC BY-NC | |
| OpenAlex | USD 3,418 | — | — |
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1983
- ISSN
- 0737-4038
- Electronic ISSN
- 1537-1719
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗DOAJ
- Aims & Scope ↗DOAJ
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗DOAJ
- Editorial board ↗DOAJ
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Molecular Biology and Evolution
What CAS zone is Molecular Biology and Evolution in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Molecular Biology and Evolution is in Zone 1 of Biology, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Genetics & Heredity / Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Evolutionary Biology; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Molecular Biology and Evolution?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 6.36; CiteScore 9.9, h-index 331.
How long does peer review take at Molecular Biology and Evolution?
Based on the dates recorded on 88 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 139 days (interquartile range 103–189 days); authors report an average review time of about 1 month; the community-reported acceptance is “Hard”. 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Molecular Biology and Evolution based?
Of the 81 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 15 (about 19%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (27), Mainland China (15) and United Kingdom (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Molecular Biology and Evolution?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Molecular Biology and Evolution is indexed in SCIE, Scopus and DOAJ.
Is Molecular Biology and Evolution open access, and what is the APC?
Molecular Biology and Evolution is a fully open-access journal. APC about USD 3,255.
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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .