About the Genome Biology preprint depository

Genome Biology's used to publish non-peer-reviewed articles in a 'preprint' depository which all individuals can access free of charge. From January 2006 Genome Biology no longer published new articles in this section. Authors of articles that were published in this depository have sole responsibility for their article's content; the only screening process used to be to ensure the relevance of the preprint to Genome Biology's scope and to avoid abusive, libellous or indecent articles.

Authors of published articles in this section may subsequently elect to withdraw the preprint, in which case a record of its withdrawal would remain in the depository, but unless withdrawn a preprint will remain unchanged once submitted.

Each preprint has a unique URL (web address), by which it can be cited in other publications, posters and grant proposals. Research submitted to the preprint depository may have been simultaneously or subsequently submitted to Genome Biology or any other publication for peer-review; the only requirement is an explicit citation of, and link to, the preprint in the article that is eventually published. If informed by the author, we can provide a reciprocal link from the preprint depository to the published article, where possible.

Articles in the Genome Biology preprint depository can be located using the search facility in the Genome Biology website.

Articles submitted to the Genome Biology preprint depository appeared online almost immediately if they were submitted in the correct electronic format (with only a short time requested for conversion to the appropriate format for the web).

Advantages of depositing articles in the Genome Biology preprint depository include:

• immediate visibility in the preprint depository on the web;
  
• protection of priority claims (the submission date will be clearly stated on each preprint);
  
• ease of circulating preprints to colleagues (simply send them the URL of your preprint);
  
• citation listings for all articles in the Genome Biology preprint depository will be in the Genome Biology journal;
  

From January 2006 Genome Biology no longer publishes new articles in this section. For further information about this initiative, please contact editorial@genomebiology.com