Other Article Types

Collection Overviews

PLOS Genetics considers Collection Overview articles within pre-planned Collections. Collection Overviews discuss the relevant history and scientific background of a Collection, and unlike Collection Reviews, they are not intended as an exhaustive summary of a particular topic, but rather aim to place the articles included in the Collection within the context of knowledge in the field.

Collection Overviews should be concise, with suitable referencing, and provide the appropriate context for the publications in the Collection.

Collection Overviews will be considered subject to prior approval by journal editors, or they may be commissioned by staff editors from the Guest Editor(s) of a Collection. PLOS Genetics staff editors do not consider unsolicited Collection Overviews.

In addition to research articles, PLOS Genetics also provides a forum for the publication of other article types of broad interest to the genetics and genomics community. These articles are by invitation only; however, you can send feedback and ideas to plosgenetics@plos.org and we encourage readers to add comments to all articles. Publication charges do not apply to the article types outlined in this section.

PLOS Genetics is no longer accepting presubmission inquiries, either through the submission system or over email. Please visit our Scope page to help inform your decision to submit, and if you aren’t sure, submit the full manuscript to the journal.

Editorials

Written by the journal's editors, these occasional pieces can cover announcements, highlights of journal content, position statements, and journal updates.

Formal Comments

In exceptional circumstances we may consider publication of a Formal Comment. Formal Comments are peer-reviewed, indexed in PubMed, and associated with specific articles published at PLOS Genetics. They are usually, but not exclusively, submitted by invitation. Formal Comments must be coherent, concise, and well-argued, and are subject to PLOS Genetics Criteria for Publication. Editors may invite a Formal Comment from the authors of the original article in response.

Interviews

Jane Gitschier brings her unique conversational style to an ongoing Collection of Interviews of interesting people in the world of science and genetics. Past Interviews have included exchanges with such luminaries as Nicholas Wade, Sir John Sulston, David Botstein and Shirley Tilghman.

Reviews

These succinct, synthetic, well-focused, and engaging Reviews should appeal to a broad genetics readership. Aim for approximately 3,000 words, two or three display items, including boxes and conceptual figures, and a concise list of the most relevant references. The article should include an overview of the existing literature that places the topic within a broader context, but it should also focus on the future: where is the field going and what exciting developments are expected? It is particularly important to highlight critical new advances, open questions, and standing controversies or paradoxes as these are especially valued by a general readership.

Because these articles are by invitation only, the topic and scope will have been agreed with an editor. It is advisable to forward on a short summary or draft in advance of the full submission. Reviews are externally peer reviewed so decisions on acceptance will be made in light of these comments as well as input from the editors.

Structure the Review as such: Title, Authors, Affiliations, Abstract, Introduction, Main Text (broken into subsections as appropriate), Conclusions, Acknowledgments, References. Figure Captions, Tables, and Boxes should be inserted immediately after the first paragraph in which they are cited in the article file.

Please refer to the information elsewhere in the submission guidelines about the specifics of manuscript, figure, and table preparation. Email us if you are in any doubt about how our guidelines for research articles differ from those of Reviews.

Viewpoints

These articles serve primarily as a forum for the discussion of controversial, emerging, or topical issues in the field; occasionally, the discussion surrounds a challenge to findings in a published research article.

In some Viewpoints, an expert will cover all sides of a controversial topic in about 2,500 words, with a concise list of the most relevant references. In others, opinions or statements will be sought from two authors with different points of view – a point–counterpoint format. In the latter case, the usual format is for each author to express his or her opinion within 700 words, with one display item, if available, and a concise list of the most relevant references. Each piece will then be sent to the other participant(s), who may choose to respond briefly (~300 words) to the opposing position. Should the editor recruit a series of points of view (three or more), soliciting counterpoints will be at his or her discretion.

Opinion Pieces

The Opinion Pieces series is intended to provide a place for the expression of views on topical, emerging or controversial issues ranging from experimental science to those involving science and public-health policy, education and training. A successful Opinion Piece will make a compelling case for a particular point of view, but in doing so will be mindful of existing controversies or alternative views, and will make an effort to integrate these into the discussion. These articles should be no more than 2000 words in length, with a maximum of 3 figures and 100 references.

Post-Publication Notices

PLOS publishes Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retraction notices, as needed, to address issues that arise after a PLOS article has been published.