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Frontiers in Genetics is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Frontiers Media S.A. It covers basic, translational, and computational genetics across all domains of life. Operating under a Gold open-access publishing model, all papers are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. This explainer covers the journal’s governance, 23 specialty sections, author submission steps, Article Processing Charge (APC) fee schedule, database indexing, and peer alternatives, sourced directly from publisher documentation and bibliographic records on 2026-11-09.
What It Is
Frontiers in Genetics is an online-only academic journal established in 2010 to report findings in molecular genetics, genomics, and heredity. It carries electronic ISSN 1664-8021 and is catalogued by the National Library of Medicine (NLM ID 101560621; ISO abbreviation Front. Genet.).
The journal does not print physical issues. Accepted articles are published continuously online and deposited into permanent digital archives including PubMed Central (PMC) and CLOCKSS. Authors retain copyright to their work, granting readers full rights to read, download, redistribute, and adapt content with proper citation.
Its coverage extends across high-throughput genomics, computational biology, clinical molecular diagnostics, and ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) in genetic science.
Who Runs It and What It Covers
The journal is published by Frontiers Media S.A., an open-access publisher based in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Field Chief Editor is Enrico Domenici (Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrated Biology, University of Trento, Italy). Subdisciplines are directed by Specialty Chief Editors across 23 dedicated sections:
The 23 specialty sections span: Applied Genetic Epidemiology; Behavioral and Psychiatric Genetics; Cancer Genetics and Oncogenomics; Computational Genomics; ELSI in Science and Genetics; Epigenetics and Genome Architecture; Evolutionary, Population, and Conservation Genetics; Genetic Disorders; Genetics of Aging; Genetics of Common and Rare Diseases; Genomic Assay Technology; Genomics of Nutrition and Metabolism; Genomics of Plants and Plant-Associated Organisms; Human and Medical Genomics; Immunogenetics; Livestock Genomics; Metagenomics; Neurogenomics; Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics; Predictive Toxicology and Exposomics; RNA; Statistical Genetics and Methodology; and Stem Cell Research.
The journal also hosts “Research Topics”—themed article collections managed by guest editors. Studies must demonstrate functional genetic or biological mechanisms; descriptive clinical reports and computational analyses lacking independent experimental or clinical cohort validation are rejected during screening.
How to Search or Use It
Authors submit manuscripts and track peer review using the Frontiers platform and Loop profile system. The submission process follows these steps, using the platform’s official interface terms:
- Access the Journal Portal: Visit the Frontiers in Genetics portal. The sign-in link is located in the upper-right navigation bar, where authors log into their Frontiers or Loop account.
- Initiate Submission: Click the “Submit your research” button in the header and choose “Start New” to open a submission draft.
- Complete “My Submission Details”: Confirm the target journal (Frontiers in Genetics), select one of the 23 specialty sections, pick the article type (such as Original Research or Review), and indicate if the paper belongs to a specific Research Topic.
- Enter “Author Information”: Enter full names, institutional affiliations, and verified email addresses for all co-authors, alongside individual contribution statements using standard CRediT roles.
- Upload Files in “File Uploads”: Upload the manuscript file in DOCX or LaTeX format, an automatically generated PDF, figures (minimum 300 dpi, RGB, TIFF or JPEG), tables, and supplementary data files.
- Complete “Ethics & Compliance”: Provide animal or human research ethics approval numbers, participant consent confirmations, and a mandatory Data Availability Statement citing repository DOIs.
- Review “Payment & Funding”: Check the estimated article processing charges (APCs), enter billing details, or apply an institutional open-access partnership account or pre-approved fee waiver.
- Participate in Collaborative Review: Track manuscript status via the portal progress bar. Once independent reviewer reports are submitted, the handling editor opens the interactive review forum, allowing authors and reviewers to resolve revisions collaboratively.
Strengths and Limits
Researchers evaluating Frontiers in Genetics consider several operational benefits and constraints:
Strengths:
- Domain-Specific Sections: Twenty-three specialized sections ensure papers are evaluated by editors and reviewers with aligned technical expertise.
- Collaborative Review Forum: The proprietary Frontiers collaborative peer review replaces iterative formal letters with a direct online discussion board.
- Named Reviewer Accountability: Handling editors and endorsing reviewers are credited by name on published article PDFs and web pages.
- Publication Speed: DOAJ records indicate an average submission-to-publication turnaround of approximately 14 weeks.
- Immediate Open Access: All content is published under CC BY 4.0 and automatically deposited in PubMed Central (PMC).
Limits:
- Author Fees: Full-length Type A articles carry an APC of CHF 3,150, creating a significant barrier for researchers lacking grant support or institutional agreements.
- Demanding Forum Timelines: The interactive forum phase requires author teams to respond to questions and upload revised files within tight platform deadlines.
- NLM Indexing Scope: While articles are searchable in PubMed through PMC archiving, the journal is not an independently selected MEDLINE title in the NLM Catalog.
- High Article Volume: With dozens of papers published weekly across sections, papers require independent dissemination by authors to gain visibility. Broader publisher-level discussions can be found in CASRAI’s guide to editorial standards and peer review and the Frontiers in Psychiatry profile.
Alternatives
Authors evaluating where to submit genetics and genomics research can compare Frontiers in Genetics with several established open-access and hybrid titles:
| Journal | Publisher | Publishing Model | Standard Research APC | Peer Review Model | Core Indexing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontiers in Genetics | Frontiers Media S.A. | Gold Open Access (CC BY 4.0) | CHF 3,150 (Type A) | Collaborative forum (reviewers named on published articles) | SCIE, Scopus, PMC, DOAJ |
| PLOS Genetics | Public Library of Science (PLOS) | Gold Open Access (CC BY 4.0) | $3,149 USD | Single-anonymous (optional published peer review history) | MEDLINE, SCIE, Scopus, PMC, DOAJ |
| BMC Genomics | BioMed Central / Springer Nature | Gold Open Access (CC BY 4.0) | $2,890 USD / £2,090 GBP | Single-anonymous peer review | MEDLINE, SCIE, Scopus, PMC, DOAJ |
| G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics | Oxford University Press / GSA | Gold Open Access (CC BY 4.0) | $2,780 USD (GSA members: $2,185) | Single-anonymous peer review | MEDLINE, SCIE, Scopus, PMC, DOAJ |
| Human Molecular Genetics | Oxford University Press | Hybrid Open Access (Subscription / OA option) | $4,585 USD (OA option) / $0 subscription | Single-anonymous peer review | MEDLINE, SCIE, Scopus, PMC |
When selecting among these venues, research teams should match project needs to journal models:
- Scope Match: Computational tools and agricultural genomics fit well within Frontiers in Genetics’ specialized sections, while disease-focused human genetics studies often target PLOS Genetics or Human Molecular Genetics.
- Financial Constraints: Teams without open-access funding can submit to hybrid titles like Human Molecular Genetics under the subscription track at zero cost.
- Review Preference: Authors seeking rapid, interactive discussion may prefer Frontiers’ forum model over traditional single-anonymous review letters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Frontiers in Genetics and who publishes it?
Frontiers in Genetics is a peer-reviewed Gold open-access journal published by Frontiers Media S.A., based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Founded in 2010, it covers basic, translational, and clinical genetics across plants, animals, humans, and microbes.
Is Frontiers in Genetics indexed in PubMed and Web of Science?
Yes. Frontiers in Genetics is indexed in Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded) and Scopus. All papers are archived in PubMed Central (PMC) and searchable in PubMed, though the journal is not separately indexed in MEDLINE.
How much does it cost to publish in Frontiers in Genetics?
Costs depend on article type. As of 2026, Type A articles (Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Methods) cost CHF 3,150. Type B articles (Mini Reviews, Brief Research Reports) cost CHF 2,500. Type C articles (Editorials, Corrections) are published free of charge.
Does Frontiers in Genetics offer fee waivers?
Yes. Authors from low- and lower-middle-income countries per World Bank classifications receive fee discounts or waivers. Unfunded authors may also apply for support during submission, and institutional open-access agreements may cover fees.
What is the difference between Type A and Type B articles?
Type A articles include full-length research, methods papers, and systematic reviews charged at CHF 3,150. Type B articles are shorter formats, such as mini-reviews and preliminary research briefs, charged at CHF 2,500.
How does the Frontiers collaborative peer review forum work?
Review begins with an independent, anonymous evaluation phase. Once completed, the handling editor activates an interactive online forum where authors and reviewers communicate directly to resolve comments. Reviewer names are published on accepted articles.
Sources
- Frontiers Media S.A. Frontiers in Genetics: Aims & Scope. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics
- Frontiers Media S.A. Frontiers in Genetics: Editorial Board. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/editors
- Frontiers Media S.A. Frontiers in Genetics: Publishing Fees. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/for-authors/publishing-fees
- Frontiers Media S.A. Frontiers Help Center: How to Submit a Manuscript. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://helpcenter.frontiersin.org/
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Frontiers in Genetics (ISSN 1664-8021). Accessed 2026-11-09. https://doaj.org/toc/1664-8021
- National Library of Medicine (NLM). NLM Catalog: Frontiers in Genetics (NLM ID 101560621). Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/101560621
