Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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Nature Reviews Genetics covers the full scientific breadth of modern genetics, including genomics, functional genomics, evolutionary genetics, technology, gene expression, multifactorial genetics, disease, chromosome biology, epigenetics, developmental biology, systems and networks, and the ethical, legal and social implications of genetics and genomics.
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Subject
Genetics & Heredity
Impact Factor
52
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Closed
ISSN
1471-0056
eISSN
1471-0064
Invitation Only
Yes
Cost Range
We do not charge a fee for publication.
Submission Instructions
Nature Reviews Genetics is an invitation-only journal. Submissions are accepted by invitation from the editorial board only. The following article types are accepted:
Review
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
A 200-word abstract is required for the synopsis and the manuscript abstract must be unstructured. Abstract should ideally be no more than 200 words. Abstract must be unstructured.
Manuscript
The manuscript should open with an introduction without subheadings and end with a brief concluding summary section without subheadings. The synopsis must include a 200-word abstract, a brief description of the main article sections, a list of key references, and the list of authors and their affiliations, and any use of a Large Language Model must be documented in the Methods section or a suitable alternative section.
References
References should be approximately 25 per 1,000 words. References must use Nature Reviews style. References must be cited sequentially as superscript numbers in the order of main text, tables, figures, and then boxes, and references with six or more authors should list only the first author followed by 'et al.'.
Figures & Tables
Display items are limited to 7 or fewer tables, figures, and boxes combined. Tables must be provided as part of the article document, while tables containing graphical content must be provided as separate image files. Figures must be fully labelled and include brief legends with a short title, and tables must have a short title, contain entries in all cells, and define all abbreviations.
Perspective
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Perspective articles must include an unstructured abstract. Perspective abstracts should ideally be no more than 200 words. Perspective abstracts must be unstructured.
Manuscript
Perspective articles should open with an introduction without subheadings that ends with a guiding paragraph, may use no more than three heading levels, and must end with a brief concluding section without subheadings. The manuscript must document any use of a Large Language Model in the Methods section or another suitable section if no Methods section is available, declare competing interests within the manuscript file, and must not include key points.
References
References must use Nature Reviews style. References must be cited as sequential superscript numbers in the order of main text, tables, figures, and then boxes, and references with six or more authors must list only the first author followed by 'et al.'.
Figures & Tables
Perspective articles may include no more than 5 display items, including tables, figures, and boxes. Tables and boxes must be provided as part of the article document, while tables containing graphical content must be supplied as separate image files. Display items must be cited in the main text in order, tables must have a short title with all abbreviations defined and no legend, and figures must be fully labelled with a short title and a concise legend defining all abbreviations.
Consensus Statement
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
A 200-word unstructured abstract is required in the synopsis. Abstract should ideally be a maximum of 200 words. Abstract must be unstructured. Abstract must not contain headings, references, or display item citations.
Manuscript
Manuscript must include an introductory section without subheadings, a Methods section describing the methodology and stakeholders, and a brief concluding summary section without subheadings. Manuscript must include competing interests and document any use of a Large Language Model in the Methods section or another suitable section if no Methods section is available.
References
References should be approximately 25 per 1,000 words. References must use Nature Reviews style. References must be cited as sequential superscript numbers, listed in the order of main text, tables, figures and then boxes, and for works with six or more authors only the first author should be listed followed by 'et al.'.
Figures & Tables
No more than 7 display items, including tables, figures and boxes, are allowed. Tables and boxes must be provided as part of the article document, while tables containing graphical content must be provided as separate image files. Tables must have a short title and defined abbreviations, and figures must be fully labelled with a short title and a concise legend of about 200 words defining all abbreviations.
Evidence-Based Guidelines
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
A synopsis for proposal submission must include an unstructured abstract. Abstract should ideally be a maximum of 200 words. Abstract must be unstructured.
Manuscript
Synopsis proposals must include a brief description of the main article sections, the introduction must be a section without subheadings, articles must include a description of methodology and stakeholders, and the article must end with a brief concluding summary section without subheadings. The synopsis must include a list of key references and the manuscript must document any use of a large language model in the Methods section or another suitable section if no Methods section is available.
References
References must use Nature Reviews style. Reference citations must be sequential superscript numbers, and for references with six or more authors only the first author should be listed followed by 'et al.'.
Figures & Tables
No more than 7 display items, including tables, figures and boxes, are allowed. Tables and boxes must be provided as part of the article document, while tables containing graphical content must be provided as separate image files. Figures must be fully labelled, tables must have a short title with all abbreviations defined, and figures must have a short title with a concise legend defining all abbreviations.
Correspondence
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Main text must not exceed 500 words. A maximum of two levels of headings is allowed, and the first paragraph must cite the original article. Competing interests must be declared within the text, and any use of a large language model must be documented in the Methods section or another suitable part of the manuscript if no Methods section is available.
References
Articles may include a maximum of 10 references. References must use Nature Reviews reference style. References must be cited as superscript numbers and listed sequentially in the order of citation through the main text, tables, figures, and then boxes, with six or more authors shortened to the first author followed by 'et al.'.
Figures & Tables
Only one display item can be included. Tables and boxes must be provided as part of the article document, while tables containing graphical content must be provided as separate image files. Tables must have a short title, contain at least three columns of data, include entries in all cells, omit legends, and define all abbreviations, while figures must be fully labelled with a short title and a concise legend defining all abbreviations.
Comment
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Comment articles are usually around 500–600 words or around 1,000–1,200 words. Comments must include a standfirst of no more than 50 words and may use only one level of heading. Competing interests must be declared within the manuscript, and any use of a Large Language Model must be documented in the Methods section or another suitable section if no Methods section is available.
References
Comments may include a maximum of 10 references. Comments must use Nature Reviews reference style. References must be cited as superscript numbers in sequential order, and references with six or more authors should list only the first author followed by 'et al.'."
Figures & Tables
Comments may include only one simple and concise display item, and supplementary information may be included at the editor's discretion. Tables and boxes must be provided as part of the article document, while supplementary information should be supplied as a single separate file if included. Tables must be simple, have a short title, no legend, at least three columns of data, and definitions for all abbreviations, while figures must be fully labelled with a short title and a concise legend defining all abbreviations.
Recent Publications
The mechanistic and evolutionary diversity of programmed DNA elimination
Sandra Duharcourt, Laura Ross, Alexander Suh, Dmitrij Dedukh, Marie Delattre, Andreas Houben, Hanna Kokko, Radka Reifova, Julien Richard Albert, Denis Roze, Jeramiah J. Smith, Jianbin Wang
10.1038/s41576-026-01004-7
View Publication
Programmable enzymes for targeted gene insertion
George D. Lampe, Rebeca T. King, Samuel H. Sternberg
10.1038/s41576-026-01002-9
View Publication
Species-dense genomics through natural history collections
Paschalia Kapli, Hugh Carter, Hayley B. Free, Adam D. Leaché, Hugo J. de Boer, Tomáš Flouri, Ben Price, Gavin R. Broad, Matthew D. Clark, Mozes P. K. Blom, Karen Meusemann, Bernhard Misof, Rebecca N. Johnson, Sandra Knapp, D. Tim J. Littlewood
10.1038/s41576-026-01011-8
View Publication
How telomere attrition protects against cancer
Alexander Stuart, Bokai Zhang, Dirk Hockemeyer, Titia de Lange
10.1038/s41576-026-01001-w
View Publication
Bridging precision agriculture and human medicine through comparative genetics
Xinfeng Liu, Bingjie Li, Lingzhao Fang
10.1038/s41576-026-01000-x
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
Median time from submission to first editorial decision is 3 days. Median time from submission to acceptance is 21 days.
Reformat to Nature Reviews Genetics using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
Institutional online access is available for purchase through a Springer Nature institutional licence.
Reformat to Nature Reviews Genetics using Livewrite PremiumResearch Topics
CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
RNA modifications and cancer
RNA Research and Splicing
Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
Genomics and Rare Diseases
Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
Animal Genetics and Reproduction
Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks
Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
Gene expression and cancer classification
Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
Genetic diversity and population structure
Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research