Settling in as Editor

I n the 2 weeks since I became Editor of DNA and Cell Biology, there has been a flurry of activity in the Editorial Office here at New York University. My Section Editors and I have received many new manuscripts, and have taken over responsibility for most, but not all, of the manuscripts previously submitted. Jo Handlesman and Karen Cloud-Hansen are still editing two issues: Undergraduate Research, which will appear in a couple of months, and Epigenetics, which will appear in the fall.

We value our reviewers highly, and could not evaluate the manuscripts that come to the journal without their expert, voluntary, and rapid consideration of the articles. One very astute and thorough reviewer alerted us to what appeared to be plagiarism. This was confirmed when the publication in question was compared to the manuscripts under review. The problem was rapidly dealt with, and, in addition to rejecting the article, we contacted the institution about this issue; the authors of the manuscripts have been banned from submitting any articles to DNA and Cell Biology for three years.

The founding Editor of DNA and Cell Biology, John Baxter, MD, passed away recently. Among his many professional accomplishments were the cloning of Bovine Growth Hormone and the founding of California Biotechnology, Inc (Cal Bio). His colleagues and protégés recently honored him at University of California San Francisco. In consultation with the Publisher and Managing Editor, we have decided to mark his tremendous contributions to the journal and the field with a Festschrift issue. Walter Miller, who was the second Editor of this journal, has kindly agreed to organize this special issue.

It will be several months before newly submitted manuscripts, which my Section Editors and I have overseen, will reach the point of e-publication and then appearance in print. At that time, the tables of contents will be reorganized and brief summaries of the articles will be included.

We thank you, our readers and potential authors, for your interest and your patience in the transition.