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Genome Research Genome Research A model for successful scientific publishing an A-list of scientific experts to serve on the editorial aim was to apply genomic analysis to solve biological board. PCR inventor and Nobelist Kary Mullis signed problems in the lab or even in the clinic, we wanted to on; so did luminaries such as Eric Lander, Svante have a journal that was also embedded with the seeds Pääbo, David Botstein and others. to grow into this research area in the future.” “To succeed, a journal needs great content, a strong With encouragement from then CSHL Director Jim Watson, editorial board, good advertising backing and a solid the team launched the journal’s new avatar in August subscription base,” says Cuddihy. “We had all these 1995, calling it Genome Research. 16 years later, Inglis things going for us right from the very beginning.” The and Sussman are gratified to see GR make the pre- journal was an immediate success. A 1992 review in dicted move — from pure methodology to developing the journal Nature raved, “…if PCR is a religion, PCR: new applications for genomics. The scientific editorial Methods and Applications is its Bible.” board, which remains vital to the journal’s success, still includes Eric Green, Rick Myers, and Richard Gibbs The journal was an immediate financial success as from the PCR era, but has expanded to include Ara- well, an achievement that other journals can rarely vinda Chakravarti, Bill Pavan, and Evan Eichler. The claim. “Most typically break even after five years and journal’s scope is ever widening. It includes emerging recoup their investment by year 10,” explains Inglis. and cross-disciplinary topics such as molecular evolution “We were profitable by the end of the first year.” and neurogenomics in addition to staples such as systems biology and genome structure and function. In 1995, with PCR innovation beginning to wane and the Human Genome Project well underway, it was “GR is also more selective than ever,” says Sussman, clear that a revolution was on its way in the field of “with around 15% of all submitted manuscripts being genomics. Inglis’s team readied for a transition that accepted for publication.” The rigorous peer review — would sustain their journal’s cachet and enhance its the thorough vetting process in which a panel of value to a research community that was itself in flux. experts debates the merits of each manuscript and the March_GR_2012_copy5 copy 12 4/10/12 10:59 AM Page 1 legitimacy of its science — has ensured that only cut- Executive Editor Hillary Sussman and ISSN 1088–9051 March 2012 “Our approach was to parallel the interests of the ting-edge and top-notch papers appear in each issue. GENOME RESEARCH GENOME Assistant Editor Robert Majovski G ENOME genomics community, which was then focused on ESEARCHVolume 22 Number 3 R genome sequencing methodologies and bioinformatics,” “In a field as diverse and fast-moving as genomics it KIF5B-RET Fusion in Lung Adenocarcinoma N Natural can be challenging to differentiate the solid science Selection in African Americans N Disclosing Genetic explains Inglis. “But knowing that the community’s ultimate Variants to Participants N Alternative Splicing Variability N Genome Assembly Evaluations 22(3): 421–592 22(3): More than 8000 scientific journals are pub- of increasing prominence. But GR, as it’s fondly known, from flashy, technically weak publications,” says Daniel lished each year, some more important and has had a great couple of decades right from its launch Feb 15_GAD_G&D Jan1.qxd copy 24 3/31/12 1:21 PM Page 1 MacArthur, a genomics expert at Harvard/MGH who prestigious than others as determined by a metric in August 1991 as a quarterly with the rather unwieldy also writes a popular blog for Wired magazine. “But if Genes & Development March 2012 of worth called the impact factor. The impact name of PCR: Methods and Applications. G e n e s I see something pop up in GR’s table of contents, I factor rankings are released annually by the Genes & Development, the oldest among the seven Volume 26 No. 4 &DevelopmentFebruary 15, 2012 know it’s worth paying close attention to it.” Cold Spring Harbor A JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Laboratory Press PRESS Suppression of epidermal differentiation news and business intelligence company, Thomson PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, one of the most journals published by CSHL Press, celebrates its 25th by the lncRNA ANCR Reuters. In the latest report, ranked within the widely used techniques in science and medicine today, anniversary this year. The youngest, CSH Perspectives 305–414 26(4): If a strong impact factor is one indication of GR’s top 1.2 percent are two journals published right here was then one of the hottest areas in biotechnology in Medicine, launched in September 2011, offers importance, the frequent coverage of its papers in the at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory by the CSHL Press R&D. “It was a new technology that was not easy to do reviews of different aspects of various diseases Also in this issue: mainstream media is another. One recent paper was • Epigenetic control of leukemia stem cells • Pumilio–miRNA regulation of E2F3 and February 15, 2012 15, February tumorigenesis • Nucleosome remodeling, chromatin mobility, even featured as one of the top 10 medical break- — Genome Research, and its slightly older sibling, and it was changing very rapidly,” recalls John Inglis, from AIDS to Alzheimer’s that are commissioned and homologous recombination Genes & Development (see sidebar). The report’s the journal’s co-founder and publisher, and executive by an eminent board of scientists and physicians. throughs of 2011 by TIME magazine. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press sub-lists hold more honors for Genome Research: it director of CSHL Press. G&D 2012 LAMFebcov.qxd_LAMnovcover.qxd copy 11 3/31/12 1:25 PM Page 1 MarchPerspect 2012_Cover 1 copy 5 3/31/12 1:45 PM Page 1 v2i3_Perspectmed_2011_Cover 2 copy 3 3/31/12 1:47 PM Page 1 March Protocols cover 2012_Protocol cover copy 1 3/31/12 1:48 PM Page 1 Cold Spring Harbor Protocols Cold Spring Harbor 267–384 2012(3): 2012 March The announcement of the completion of the first draft of COLD SPRING HARBOR Volume 19 Number 2 February 2012 ranks second among journals in the “Genetics and COLD SPRING HARBOR www.rnajournal.org COLD SPRING HARBOR RNA Perspectives in Biology P r o t o c o l s Perspectives in Medicine LEARNING V O L U M E 4 • I S S U E 3 M A R C H 2 0 1 2 VOLUME 2012 • I S S U E 3 • MARCH V O L U M E 2 • I S S U E 3 MARCH 2012 the human genome at CSHL’s Grace Auditorium more Heredity” and “Biotechnology and Applied Microbiol- Inglis, a proponent of “agile” publishing — a mix of MEMORY VOL. 18, NO. 4 A P R I L 2 0 1 2 MOLECULES, CELLS, SYSTEMS, AND BEHAVIOR ogy” categories. faster, versatile, market-driven publishing strategies — Subspan and supraspan memory than a decade ago included a promise about the enor- 18(4): 605–870 saw a niche for a publication about laboratory tech- mous benefits that these results would one day offer to In this issue: • Perspective on atomic resolution structures of RF3 bound to the ribosome • Mechanism of substrate selection by a highly “We’re proud that Genome Research has become so niques, which, unlike a technical manual, would come specific CRISPR endoribonuclease mankind. “We are driven by the goal of helping to • Transcription regulates telomere dynamics in human cancer cells • Structure of the yeast U2/U6 snRNA complex April 2012 • Analysis of stress granule assembly highly valued by the genomics community,” beams Hillary out regularly but less frequently than a typical journal. in Schizosaccharomyces pombe deliver this goal and making GR the journal that shows Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press PRESS COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY PRESS Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press PRESS Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Laboratory Press Submit Your Papers Online Sussman, who became executive editor of Genome Research He and editor Judy Cuddihy carefully midwifed their http://submit.rnajournals.org genomics matters to human health,” says Inglis. in 2004 and has steered the journal through a period new product, negotiating advertising support and inviting Hema Bashyam HARBOR TRANSCRIPT • issue 1 • 2012 7.
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