Journal of DNA And RNA Research

Journal of DNA And RNA Research

Journal of DNA And RNA Research – Instructions For Author

Open Access & Peer-Reviewed

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Instructions for Authors

Comprehensive guidelines for preparing and submitting manuscripts to the Journal of DNA and RNA Research

Preparing Your Manuscript for JDRR

The Journal of DNA and RNA Research (JDRR) welcomes submissions of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, short communications, and perspectives addressing all aspects of nucleic acid biology. These instructions provide detailed guidance on manuscript preparation, formatting requirements, and submission procedures to ensure your manuscript receives timely and thorough consideration. Adherence to these guidelines expedites the editorial process and increases the likelihood of successful publication.

Types of Manuscripts

Original Research Articles

Full-length manuscripts presenting novel findings supported by comprehensive experimental data. Research articles should provide sufficient methodological detail for reproducibility and include appropriate statistical analysis. While there is no strict word limit, authors should present findings concisely. Typical research articles range from 4,000 to 8,000 words excluding references and figure legends.

Review Articles

Comprehensive reviews synthesizing current knowledge on significant topics in DNA and RNA research. Reviews should provide critical analysis rather than simple literature surveys. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are particularly welcome. Prospective review authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office with a brief proposal before full submission. Reviews typically range from 6,000 to 12,000 words.

Short Communications

Brief reports presenting significant preliminary findings, novel methodologies, or results of particular timeliness. Short communications are limited to 3,000 words with a maximum of 4 figures or tables and follow an expedited review process. This format is suitable for technical notes, negative results of significance, and confirmatory studies.

Perspectives and Commentaries

Opinion pieces addressing controversies, emerging trends, or significant developments in nucleic acid research. These submissions are subject to editorial review and should present well-reasoned arguments supported by appropriate citations. Perspectives typically range from 2,000 to 4,000 words.

Manuscript Preparation

General Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or LaTeX format. Use a standard font (Times New Roman, Arial, or similar) in 12-point size with double-spacing throughout. Number all pages consecutively and include continuous line numbering to facilitate review. Margins should be at least 2.5 cm on all sides. American or British English spelling may be used consistently throughout.

Title Page

The title page should include the manuscript title (concise and informative, avoiding abbreviations), full names of all authors with institutional affiliations, corresponding author contact information including email address, a running title of no more than 50 characters, word count for the main text, and the number of figures and tables. Authors should also include 3-6 keywords for indexing purposes.

Abstract

Research articles require a structured abstract of 250-300 words organized into Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions sections. Review articles may use an unstructured abstract of similar length. Short communications require an unstructured abstract of 150-200 words. The abstract should stand alone without references or undefined abbreviations.

Introduction

The introduction should provide sufficient background to orient readers who are not specialists in the specific area, clearly state the research question or hypothesis, and briefly outline the experimental approach. Avoid extensive literature review; cite only the most relevant prior work.

Materials and Methods

Provide sufficient detail for reproducibility by qualified researchers. For established methods, cite the original reference and note any modifications. Describe novel methods in full detail. Include information on reagent sources, equipment specifications, and software versions. Statistical methods should be described with sufficient detail to enable evaluation of their appropriateness. Ethics statements for human and animal research must be included.

Results

Present findings objectively without interpretation. Organize results logically using subheadings where appropriate. Refer to all figures and tables in the text. Avoid excessive numerical precision; report values to appropriate significant figures. Include appropriate statistical measures such as confidence intervals, p-values, and effect sizes.

Discussion

Interpret results in the context of existing literature. Discuss the significance and implications of findings. Address limitations of the study honestly. Avoid repeating results; instead, focus on their meaning and importance. Conclude with clear statements of the main findings and their broader implications.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledge individuals who provided assistance but do not meet authorship criteria. Specify the nature of each individual's contribution. Funding sources should be listed separately in a Funding Statement.

References

JDRR uses the Vancouver reference style with numbered citations in the order of appearance in the text. References should be cited as superscript numbers. List all authors when there are six or fewer; for seven or more authors, list the first six followed by et al. Include complete article titles. Journal names should be abbreviated according to Index Medicus standards. Include DOIs where available.

Reference Examples:

Journal article: Smith AB, Jones CD, Williams EF. CRISPR-Cas9 targeting efficiency in mammalian cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 2024;52(4):1234-1245. doi:10.1093/nar/example

Book chapter: Brown GH. DNA repair mechanisms. In: Johnson KL, editor. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 7th ed. New York: Academic Press; 2023. p. 345-389.

Figures and Tables

Figure Requirements

Figures should be submitted as separate files in TIFF, EPS, or high-resolution PDF format. Minimum resolution is 300 dpi for photographs and 600 dpi for line art. Figures should be sized appropriately for publication width (single column: 8.5 cm; double column: 17 cm). Use consistent fonts and line weights across all figures. Color figures are published at no additional charge in the online version.

Figure Legends

Provide a brief title for each figure followed by a description sufficient for understanding without reference to the text. Define all symbols, abbreviations, and scale bars. Legends should be compiled at the end of the manuscript file, not embedded in figure files.

Table Requirements

Tables should be created using the table function in Word, not as images. Each table requires a concise title placed above it. Use footnotes rather than lengthy explanatory text within cells. Define all abbreviations in footnotes. Tables should be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals.

Supplementary Materials

JDRR encourages submission of supplementary materials that support the main findings but are too detailed or tangential for the main text. Acceptable formats include additional figures, tables, datasets, videos, and extended methodology. Supplementary files should be cited in the main text and will be reviewed along with the manuscript. Large datasets should be deposited in appropriate public repositories with accession numbers provided in the manuscript.

Ethical Requirements

Research Ethics

Research involving human subjects must have received approval from an appropriate institutional review board or ethics committee, with the approval number stated in the Methods section. Studies should comply with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent must have been obtained from all human subjects or their legal guardians.

Animal research must comply with institutional and national guidelines for ethical treatment. Include the institutional approval number and confirm that care guidelines such as ARRIVE were followed. State whether anesthesia and pain management were used where appropriate.

Authorship and Contributions

All authors must meet ICMJE criteria for authorship: substantial contributions to conception/design or data acquisition/analysis, drafting or critical revision of the manuscript, final approval of the version to be published, and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Author contribution statements are required and should specify each author's role using CRediT taxonomy.

Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could be perceived to influence the research. If no conflicts exist, authors should state "The authors declare no conflicts of interest." Disclosure of conflicts does not preclude publication but enables readers to evaluate potential bias.

Data Availability

JDRR requires a data availability statement for all research articles. Authors should state where data supporting the findings can be accessed. Sequence data must be deposited in GenBank, EMBL, or DDBJ with accession numbers provided. Structural data should be deposited in the Protein Data Bank. Other datasets should be deposited in appropriate repositories such as Dryad, Figshare, or institutional repositories.

Submission Process

Manuscripts may be submitted through our ManuscriptZone online portal or using the simple submission form. First-time users of ManuscriptZone will need to create an account. The submission process requires the manuscript file, separate figure files, supplementary materials, a cover letter, and suggested reviewers (optional but appreciated).

The cover letter should describe the significance of the work, confirm originality and ethical compliance, disclose any related submissions or publications, and identify the corresponding author. Authors may suggest up to five potential reviewers with their contact information. Authors may also request exclusion of specific reviewers for valid reasons.

Important: Submission implies that the work has not been published previously, is not under consideration elsewhere, and publication has been approved by all authors and relevant authorities. JDRR employs plagiarism detection software on all submissions.

Review and Publication

JDRR uses double-blind peer review. Submissions are first evaluated by the editorial office for scope and completeness, then assigned to an associate editor who coordinates review by typically two or three experts. Authors typically receive initial decisions within 21 days. Possible outcomes include acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection. Revised manuscripts should be accompanied by a detailed response to reviewer comments.

Upon acceptance, manuscripts enter production where they undergo copyediting, typesetting, and proofreading. Authors receive proofs for final approval prior to publication. Accepted articles are published online within 5-7 business days of final approval and assigned Digital Object Identifiers for permanent citability. Article Processing Charges are invoiced following acceptance and must be settled prior to publication.

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