Preprints

A preprint is the version of a scientific manuscript that authors upload to a public server before it undergoes formal peer review in a journal (as described in: Preprints for the life sciences. Science 352, 899–901; 2016. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf9133). 

The journal accepts submissions of articles that have been previously posted on non-profit public servers. Authors must notify the journal of any preprint related to a manuscript submission.

According to this policy, authors must include a statement about the preprint either in the Acknowledgements section or immediately after the abstract, mentioning the preprint. Authors may follow this format: “This manuscript was submitted as a preprint at the following link: [insert link].” In addition, authors must cite the preprint in the References section.