11 Biology Journals: Author Guidelines and Templates

MS Word, LaTeX templates and author guidelines

This guide links to the official author instructions and an approved SciSpace template for eleven biology journals. Check the article type and submission policy at each journal before drafting.

Getting started with your research paper formatting

Formatting requirements differ by journal and article type. Use the current publisher instructions as the authority for manuscript files, figures, ethics declarations and references; a third-party template is a starting aid, not approval by the journal.

Use this set to explore journal scope, author instructions and optional SciSpace templates. The order is retained from the original guide; it is not a current ranking by Impact Factor or a recommendation to submit to any particular journal.

Top International Biology Journals

This is an editorial selection, not a current ranking. Compare journal scope, article types and author instructions before choosing where to submit.

1. The American Naturalist

The American Naturalist is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1867. It is published by the University of Chicago Press on behalf of the American Society of Naturalists. The journal covers research in ecology, evolutionary biology, population, and integrative biology.

Author instructions: The American Naturalist official guide. Optional SciSpace template: The American Naturalist template.

Journal Abbreviation — Am. Nat.

Journal Impact Factor (2023): 2.4

Learn more about the American Society of Naturalists Publication Guide.

2. BioEssays

BioEssays is a review and discussion journal for contemporary life and biomedical science. It does not consider original research papers; check its current author instructions for article categories.

Author instructions: BioEssays official guide. Optional SciSpace template: BioEssays template.

Journal Abbreviation — BioEssays

Journal Impact Factor (2025): 3.3.

3. Biological Reviews

Biological Reviews publishes synthetic reviews across the biological sciences. Check the journal’s aims and author instructions before proposing a topic.

Author instructions: Biological Reviews official guide. Optional SciSpace template: Biological Reviews template.

Journal Abbreviation — Biol. Rev.

Journal Impact Factor (2024): 10.9.

4. Biophysical Journal

The Biophysical Journal is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Cell Press on behalf of the Biophysical Society. It covers all aspects of biophysics.

Author instructions: Biophysical Journal official guide. Optional SciSpace template: Biophysical Journal template.

Journal Abbreviation — Biophys. J.

Journal Impact Factor (2025): 2.7.

5. Cell

Cell is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research papers across a broad range of disciplines within the life sciences. Areas covered include molecular biology, cell biology, systems biology, stem cells, developmental biology, genetics and genomics, proteomics, cancer research, immunology, neuroscience, structural biology, microbiology, virology, physiology, biophysics, and computational biology.

Author instructions: Cell official guide. Optional SciSpace template: Cell template.

Journal Abbreviation — Cell

Journal Impact Factor (2025): 45.1.

Learn more about Cell Press Publication guide.

6. International Journal of Biological Sciences

The International Journal of Biological Sciences is a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal published by Ivyspring International Publisher. It publishes original articles, reviews, and short research communications in all areas of biological sciences.

Author instructions: International Journal of Biological Sciences official guide. Optional SciSpace template: International Journal of Biological Sciences template.

Journal Abbreviation — Int. J. Biol. Sci.

Journal Impact Factor (2024): 10.0.

7. The Journal of Cell Biology

The Journal of Cell Biology is an international, peer-reviewed journal owned by The Rockefeller University and published by The Rockefeller University Press.

Author instructions: Journal of Cell Biology official guide. Optional SciSpace template: Journal of Cell Biology template.

Journal Abbreviation — J. Cell Biol.

Journal Impact Factor (2024): 6.1.

8. Journal of Molecular Biology

Journal of Molecular Biology publishes research across molecular biology. Check Elsevier’s current guide for article types and preparation requirements.

Author instructions: Journal of Molecular Biology official guide. Optional SciSpace template: Journal of Molecular Biology template.

Journal Abbreviation — J. Mol. Biol.

Journal Impact Factor (2024): 4.5.

9. Journal of Theoretical Biology

Journal of Theoretical Biology focuses on theoretical, mathematical and computational work that illuminates biological processes. Consult the guide for article types.

Author instructions: Journal of Theoretical Biology official guide. Optional SciSpace template: Journal of Theoretical Biology template.

Journal Abbreviation — J. Theor. Biol.

Journal Impact Factor (2025): 2.0.

10. Journal of Virology

The Journal of Virology is a biweekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers research concerning all aspects of virology. It was established in 1967 and is published by the American Society for Microbiology.

Author instructions: Journal of Virology official guide. Optional SciSpace template: Journal of Virology template.

Journal Abbreviation — J. Virol.

Journal Impact Factor (2024): 3.8.

11. PLOS Biology

PLOS Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of Biology. Publication began on October 13, 2003. It was the first journal of the Public Library of Science.

Author instructions: PLOS Biology official guide. Optional SciSpace template: PLOS Biology template.

Journal Abbreviation — PLoS Biol.

Journal Impact Factor (2025): 6.9.

A journal may provide its own submission files or accept flexible initial formatting. Check the publisher guide for required format and review a generated manuscript before submission.

If you found this list useful, please do share top biology journals’ templates with your fellow researchers, academics and colleagues.

Choose the journal guide before a template

Check the current journal instructions first, then use a template for drafting if it fits the article type. Confirm references, figures, declarations and manuscript files before submission.

SciSpace lists a template for each journal in this guide. These are optional tools: the journal’s own submission requirements always govern.

Compare the relevant SciSpace template with the current author guide and revise manually wherever requirements differ.

You can use SciSpace writing tools to organize a draft, then verify every reference and claim against the underlying source.

No writing tool can determine whether your manuscript satisfies every editorial, ethics or rights requirement. Review the publisher’s instructions and the final files yourself.

Related Reading

1. Top 13 international Material Science journals- a template guide
2. Top 16 Computer Science journals and their templates
3. Template collection of top Chemistry journals

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