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Molecular Biology and Evolution

Molecular Biology and Evolution is a journal of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution published by Oxford University Press. It publishes research in molecular biology, evolution, genomics, methods, resources, protocols, reviews, and related article types, and lists a 2024 Impact Factor of 5.3 and a 2024 5 Year Impact Factor of 11.9.

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Impact Factor 5.3
Quartile Q1
Open Access Type Hybrid
ISSN 0737-4038
eISSN 1537-1719
Invitation Only No
Cost Range All articles accepted for publication from 1 August 2020 are subject to an Article Processing Charge (APC).

Submission Instructions

Molecular Biology and Evolution accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Discoveries

Cover Letter A cover letter is required for submission. Cover letter must briefly explain in one paragraph the significant discoveries or methodological advances reported, mention the broader impacts of the study to the scientific community, confirm that all authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript, and disclose any use of AI.
Abstract An abstract is required. Abstract must be up to 250 words. Abstract structure is not specified.
Manuscript Manuscript is typically organized with the headings Introduction, Results, Discussion, and Materials and Methods, if applicable. Manuscript must disclose any use of AI in the Methods or Acknowledgements section.
References References must use author-year citation style in the text. Text citations should be ordered chronologically when grouped and use the first author's name plus 'et al.' for three or more authors.
Figures & Tables For initial submission, figures, tables, and their legends may be embedded where first cited or appended after the References section within a single PDF, while supplementary material must be submitted separately. Alt text descriptions must be provided for all images, figures, illustrations, and photographs in the main manuscript file directly under the relevant figure legend, preceded by 'Alt text:'.
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Reviews

Cover Letter A cover letter is required for submission. Cover letter must briefly explain in one paragraph the significant discoveries or methodological advances and broader impacts of the study, confirm that all authors approved the final manuscript, and disclose any use of AI.
Abstract An abstract is required. Abstract must be up to 250 words. Abstract structure type is not explicitly stated. The manuscript is typically followed by sections headed Introduction, Results, Discussion, and Materials and Methods, if applicable.
Manuscript Manuscript sections are typically ordered as Introduction, Results, Discussion, and Materials and Methods, if applicable. Any use of AI must be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References References must use author-year citation style. In-text citations should list author and year, use the first author plus 'et al.' for three or more authors, and grouped citations should be in chronological order.
Figures & Tables For initial submission, tables, figures, and figure captions must be included in a single PDF and may be embedded where first cited or appended after the References section. Alt text must be provided in the main manuscript directly under each figure legend and preceded by 'Alt text:'.
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Brief Communications

Cover Letter A cover letter is required for submission. Cover letter must briefly explain in one paragraph the significant discoveries or methodological advances, mention the broader impacts of the study to the scientific community, confirm that all authors have read and approved the final version, and disclose any use of AI.
Abstract An abstract is required at the beginning of the manuscript. Abstract must be no longer than 150 words. Abstract structure is not specified beyond requiring an abstract at the beginning. No mandatory abstract headings are specified.
Manuscript Main text must be no more than 2,000 words. After the abstract, the manuscript may use flexible section headings such as Introduction, Results, Discussion, and Materials and Methods when applicable. Any use of AI must be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
References Citations must use author-year style in the text. References section for revised manuscripts must be arranged alphabetically by author name and then chronologically for references with identical authors.
Figures & Tables Manuscript may contain up to three figures or tables. For initial submission, figures, tables, and their legends may be embedded where first cited in the text or appended after the References section within a single PDF. All images, figures, illustrations, and photographs in the main article must include an alt text description placed directly under the relevant figure legend and preceded by 'Alt text:'.
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Recent Publications

Temperature-sensitive cytoplasmic incompatibility across divergent Wolbachia partly reflects cifB transcription, not endosymbiont density

Basabi Bagchi, Lore Van Vlaenderen, Tim Wheeler, Elena Provencal, William R Conner, Kyle McGuire, Brandon S Cooper, J Dylan Shropshire

10.1093/molbev/msag186
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Reconstructing the evolutionary origin of β-catenin recognition in the Wnt destruction complex

Hongyan Sun, Brian M Walters, Radim Zidek, Mark Q Martindale, Athula H Wikramanayake

10.1093/molbev/msag185
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Genetic background shapes the transcriptional activity and phenotypic contribution of a horizontally acquired region in yeast

Andrés Romero, Camila Bastías, Matteo De Chiara, Xanita Saayman, Hajar Cherkaoui, Benjamin Barré, Francisco A Cubillos, Claudio Martínez, Eduardo I Kessi-Pérez, Gianni Liti, Francisco Salinas

10.1093/molbev/msag187
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Parasites constrain within-population diversification while accelerating between-population divergence in an RNA replication system

Yuki Kanai, Norikazu Ichihashi

10.1093/molbev/msag184
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Bacterial persistence modulates the speed, magnitude and onset of antibiotic resistance evolution

Giorgio Boccarella, Philip Ruelens, Ernesto Berríos-Caro, Bram Van den Bergh, Lloyd Cool, Jan Michiels, Pieter van den Berg

10.1093/molbev/msag180
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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Accepted Manuscript is published within one week after acceptance and signing the publishing agreement. Appeal decisions may take up to 6 weeks.

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Is a cover letter required?

A cover letter is required for submission. It should briefly explain in one paragraph the significant discoveries or methodological advances, mention the broader impacts of the study to the scientific community, and confirm that all authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. Previous reviews and a point-by-point response are required in the cover letter for manuscripts previously reviewed by another journal, along with information about the previous journal. Related or similar preprints, dissertations, manuscripts, published papers, and reports must be disclosed in the cover letter.

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What are the publication costs?

Subscription journal with open access publishing option.

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Research Topics

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies Genetic diversity and population structure RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms Chromosomal and Genetic Variations Evolution and Genetic Dynamics Protist diversity and phylogeny Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals Evolution and Paleontology Studies Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics Plant and animal studies Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms RNA Research and Splicing CRISPR and Genetic Engineering Forensic and Genetic Research Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences Plant Virus Research Studies RNA modifications and cancer Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology Bacteriophages and microbial interactions Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior Fungal and yeast genetics research