Molecular Biology journals by time to acceptance (2025)

389 journals with 2025 figures · median days from submission to acceptance, measured from PubMed dates · data as of Sep 15, 2026

Sorted by median days from submission to acceptance in 2025. Faster is not better — this is a planning aid, not a ranking of quality. Click a column to re-sort.

2025 figures only
Open access
Doklady Biochemistry and Biophysics17 (13–26)90940.0
Genes29 (22–38)1,5053≈$3,137Open access0.21
Current Issues in Molecular Biology34 (26–43)1,0703≈$2,689Open access (DOAJ)0.33
Metabolites36 (28–48)8174≈$3,300Open access (DOAJ)0.0
The Plant Cell37 (9–99)285≈$4,934Hybrid0.0
International Journal of Molecular Sciences38 (29–50)11,9913≈$3,499Open access0.14
Cells39 (29–53)2,0353≈$3,300Open access (DOAJ)0.07
Biomolecules41 (31–54)1,7613≈$3,300Open access (DOAJ)0.11
Redox Biology41 (25–67)4832$4,700Open access (DOAJ)1.51
BioTech45 (35–57)1003≈$1,956Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences50 (27–78)12025≈$7,030Hybrid0.0
Methods and Protocols51 (42–65)1575≈$2,200Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Epigenomes52 (38–69)523≈$1,833Open access (DOAJ)
Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry53 (37–77)207≈$3,2720.89
The Journal of Microbiology54 (36–81)9660≈$3,6900.0
Plant Cell Reports56 (39–87)27516≈$4,5900.0
Current Opinion in Biotechnology56 (28–92)11422≈$4,530Hybrid0.0
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology57 (36–82)298390.0
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters57 (40–84)2646≈$4,500Hybrid0.0
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications59 (8–90)1,4841≈$3,110Hybrid0.15
Trends in Genetics59 (38–83)10227≈$7,030Hybrid0.0
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry61 (46–80)1,0763≈$4,650Hybrid0.0
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry61 (47–78)3392≈$3,9600.0
Stem Cell Reviews and Reports61 (43–103)8017≈$4,3900.0
Proteomes61 (46–87)686≈$2,200Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences62 (41–94)47820≈$3,850Open access (DOAJ)2.08
Archives of Microbiology62 (44–88)47619≈$4,090Hybrid0.82
Biology Open62 (22–127)15234$2,500Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Non-Coding RNA62 (49–81)774≈$2,200Open access (DOAJ)0.0
The Journal of Biochemistry63 (34–94)79≈$3,2760.0
iMeta63 (43–97)6620$4,960Open access (DOAJ)0.0
BIO-PROTOCOL64 (53–81)37536$1,200Open access (DOAJ)0.52
Protein Expression and Purification64 (48–80)1361≈$3,6800.0
Free Radical Biology and Medicine65 (47–98)6351≈$4,240Hybrid0.0
Journal of Peptide Science66 (42–104)73≈$4,0300.0
Genes to Cells67 (38–124)75≈$3,8000.0
Biophysical Reviews68 (46–91)11316≈$3,9900.0
Function68 (38–97)51$3,900Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology69 (47–99)1,07418≈$3,850Open access (DOAJ)2.23
Acta Crystallographica Section F Structural Biology Communications69 (51–100)6416≈$3,5200.0
Iranian Journal of Biotechnology70 (38–146)5794Open access0.0
IET Systems Biology70 (50–93)56$2,400Open access (DOAJ)
Genetics71 (42–116)256≈$4,477Hybrid0.0
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening71 (54–94)1921360.0
Current Opinion in Microbiology71 (50–107)6921≈$3,800Hybrid0.0
Genes Chromosomes and Cancer71 (44–109)68≈$4,8100.0
Bioorganic Chemistry73 (52–104)1,1922≈$4,240Hybrid0.23
G3 Genes Genomes Genetics73 (47–113)307$2,580Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters73 (54–104)3042≈$3,880Hybrid0.57
Natural Products and Bioprospecting73 (49–99)9043$2,590Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy74 (57–97)9986≈$3,610Open access2.37
Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark74 (59–91)328$2,500Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Trends in Biochemical Sciences74 (15–95)12128≈$7,0300.0
Frontiers in Bioinformatics75 (57–111)17524≈$3,117Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Mammalian Genome75 (50–104)8617≈$3,89022.51
Journal of Plant Physiology76 (55–115)1621≈$3,3700.0
SLAS DISCOVERY76 (55–117)741No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Protein & Cell76 (45–141)68$2,570Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Molecular Biology Reports77 (57–111)1,16911≈$4,290Hybrid1.74
Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology77 (58–92)1764$1,500Open access (DOAJ)0.0
AMB Express77 (56–120)17323$3,090Open access (DOAJ)1.25
Biology Direct77 (45–115)12716$2,990Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biophysical Chemistry77 (56–107)922≈$3,7200.0
Genes & Genomics78 (41–108)11525≈$2,3901.51
Frontiers in Pharmacology79 (53–120)3,91619≈$3,850Open access (DOAJ)0.66
Neoplasia79 (43–117)1338$3,790Open access (DOAJ)1.88
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal79 (53–121)13058≈$2,4900.0
Biology Methods and Protocols79 (44–110)903$1,067Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Molecules and Cells79 (63–108)635$2,500Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Data in Brief80 (50–127)1,1457$1,330Open access (DOAJ)0.0
RSC Chemical Biology80 (53–110)1673≈$2,831Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Methods81 (56–115)1572≈$3,6000.0
Biomolecules & Therapeutics81 (43–109)81330.0
Glycobiology81 (50–138)75≈$4,756Hybrid0.0
Analytical Biochemistry82 (55–116)1881≈$3,540Hybrid0.0
Trends in Plant Science82 (48–136)18524≈$7,030Hybrid0.0
FEBS Letters83 (55–116)26532≈$3,980Hybrid0.91
BioData Mining83 (58–151)8917$2,790Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biosensors and Bioelectronics84 (61–119)1,0231≈$5,540Hybrid0.23
Computational Biology and Chemistry84 (59–120)4624≈$3,3200.0
Functional & Integrative Genomics84 (61–117)28020≈$2,69024.92
Photochemistry and Photobiology84 (58–129)12821≈$4,3300.0
Journal of Natural Medicines84 (53–114)11928≈$4,5900.0
Current Opinion in Plant Biology84 (62–120)10525≈$4,810Hybrid0.0
IUBMB Life84 (59–146)77≈$4,430Hybrid0.0
Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts85 (66–118)12820$2,990Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Human Genetics85 (48–131)12715≈$5,4900.0
Biosystems86 (56–133)1873≈$2,870Hybrid0.0
Journal of Molecular Biology87 (58–121)4094≈$4,730Hybrid0.0
ACS Bio & Med Chem Au87 (73–110)6412$3,500Open access (DOAJ)0.0
TURKISH JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY87 (65–110)540No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Photosynthesis Research87 (63–121)5412≈$3,8902.89
Frontiers in Genetics88 (60–132)88020≈$3,850Open access (DOAJ)1.31
Fitoterapia88 (66–118)6042≈$3,9500.0
Molecular Cancer88 (57–131)30129$5,290Open access (DOAJ)0.0
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY90 (30–146)670≈$3,851Hybrid0.32
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology90 (64–110)1411270.0
Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal91 (67–116)5563≈$3,404Open access (DOAJ)0.0
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science91 (63–129)28910≈$4,500Hybrid0.0
Stem Cell Research91 (52–151)2462$2,460Open access (DOAJ)0.59
Human Genomics91 (57–152)17423$3,390Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Current Opinion in Structural Biology91 (69–107)16226≈$4,360Hybrid1.34
Enzyme and Microbial Technology91 (71–123)1532≈$3,7000.0
Trends in Cell Biology91 (71–111)8627≈$7,030Hybrid0.0
Protein and Peptide Letters91 (78–109)680.0
Cancer Letters92 (67–128)5111≈$4,960Hybrid0.96
Cell Proliferation92 (67–135)13816$3,680Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Science China Life Sciences93 (55–136)30681≈$3,7900.0
Drug Discovery Today93 (66–146)2644≈$4,7200.0
Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins93 (70–140)19415≈$4,090Hybrid0.0
Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering93 (66–128)15416≈$4,0902.59
Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences93 (76–126)1132$2,730Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering93 (70–126)11124≈$3,0000.0
Biological Procedures Online93 (54–125)6229$3,590Open access (DOAJ)
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry94 (65–138)1,3671≈$3,990Hybrid0.75
STAR Protocols94 (71–122)72022$1,920Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Cellular Signalling94 (68–130)6412≈$3,550Hybrid2.1
Bioresources and Bioprocessing94 (77–124)16223$1,990Open access (DOAJ)1.63
Journal of Biological Engineering94 (63–136)13917$3,090Open access (DOAJ)0.0
RNA94 (45–141)11874Hybrid1.59
Current Opinion in Cell Biology94 (68–122)10025≈$4,390Hybrid0.0
Neurogenetics94 (64–147)7515≈$4,5904.48
Cell Calcium94 (67–150)511≈$3,9500.0
Journal of Molecular Histology95 (59–143)35025≈$3,8901.41
Microbial Cell Factories95 (69–144)27018$3,690Open access (DOAJ)1.46
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry95 (76–110)1510.0
Neuromuscular Disorders95 (69–131)1041≈$3,4701.75
Current Protein and Peptide Science95 (75–116)821380.0
Biopolymers95 (49–125)81≈$4,1500.0
Acta Crystallographica Section D Structural Biology95 (75–155)6120≈$5,230Hybrid0.0
Journal of genetics and genomics/Journal of Genetics and Genomics96 (66–130)1267≈$3,1400.0
Cancer Drug Resistance96 (69–117)6312Open access0.0
The Journal of Gene Medicine96 (71–139)59≈$4,4802.26
Fungal Genetics and Biology96 (74–125)545≈$3,2100.0
Gene97 (70–133)4752≈$3,3000.0
Journal of Integrative Plant Biology97 (50–173)26430≈$3,0000.0
Journal of Cancer97 (73–133)24621≈$2,850Open access (DOAJ)0.92
Frontiers in Microbiomes97 (64–150)5923≈$2,383Open access (DOAJ)
General Physiology and Biophysics97 (74–141)53Open access0.0
Biotechnology Journal98 (70–128)190≈$4,7800.0
DNA repair98 (66–133)923≈$3,390Hybrid2.07
International Journal of Oncology98 (74–133)8634Hybrid3.6
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development98 (74–131)7522≈$4,200Hybrid0.0
Current Gene Therapy98 (71–124)711240.0
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics99 (61–144)3141≈$3,170Hybrid2.33
Microbial Biotechnology99 (61–152)196$4,260Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Current Molecular Medicine99 (76–126)1161450.0
Trends in Molecular Medicine99 (56–141)11125≈$7,030Hybrid0.0
Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Nucleic Acids99 (81–129)7219
Cytotechnology100 (61–148)17414≈$4,1902.39
Journal of Structural Biology100 (70–154)842≈$4,350Hybrid0.0
Theranostics101 (64–128)56624≈$3,206Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research101 (73–131)32717$4,490Open access (DOAJ)5.19
APOPTOSIS101 (72–147)8227≈$5,090Hybrid1.95
Planta102 (66–151)30214≈$4,590Hybrid1.5
Biochimie102 (68–155)1701≈$3,110Hybrid0.0
Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology102 (66–146)7418≈$4,3900.0
Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design103 (80–135)17420≈$4,1900.0
BMC Biotechnology103 (71–156)14818$3,090Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling103 (70–173)5423≈$2,8600.0
BMC Plant Biology104 (72–161)1,99221$3,190Open access (DOAJ)0.0
International Journal of Molecular Medicine104 (80–131)21932Hybrid12.55
Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology104 (70–170)19113$1,000Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Human Molecular Genetics104 (71–152)177≈$4,390Hybrid0.0
Biofilm104 (78–144)851$3,200Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biochemical Pharmacology105 (82–136)7531≈$3,590Hybrid0.4
Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports105 (74–154)5146$2,750Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Plant Science105 (76–143)4762≈$3,7600.0
Molecular Plant105 (30–179)2233≈$5,000Hybrid0.0
Metabolic Engineering105 (80–135)1441≈$4,780Hybrid0.0
Molecular Carcinogenesis105 (70–143)12719≈$4,4900.0
FEMS Yeast Research105 (72–163)72≈$3,371Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biotechnology and Bioengineering106 (79–140)26213≈$5,0600.0
Phytochemical Analysis106 (72–138)8513≈$4,3800.0
Current Medicinal Chemistry107 (79–142)4021460.0
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology107 (75–153)29021$4,390Open access (DOAJ)0.39
Biochemical Journal107 (69–149)115190.0
International Journal of Genomics107 (71–173)9634$2,620Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Experimental Cell Research108 (75–154)2992≈$3,2700.68
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry109 (81–152)25015≈$4,1907.44
Journal of Biotechnology109 (85–143)2212≈$4,3600.0
Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease109 (78–150)130≈$3,4700.0
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids109 (78–147)1152≈$3,670Hybrid0.0
Experimental Eye Research110 (78–159)4621≈$4,010Hybrid0.57
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek110 (75–146)17916≈$3,6900.0
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology110 (66–158)54≈$3,0900.0
Cell Communication and Signaling111 (79–150)60917$3,490Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Chinese Medicine111 (80–148)25524$3,090Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Oncology Reports111 (91–142)13238Hybrid11.26
World Journal of Stem Cells111 (88–142)124Hybrid0.0
PROTOPLASMA111 (72–151)11514≈$3,6900.0
Systematic and Applied Microbiology111 (70–150)572≈$4,0100.0
Journal of Biological Chemistry112 (70–163)1,2527$3,430Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Non-coding RNA Research112 (84–152)932$1,100Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews113 (84–160)1313≈$5,5500.0
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics113 (85–141)571≈$3,9000.0
The FASEB Journal114 (87–152)1,048≈$3,740Hybrid1.36
Biotechnology Reports114 (81–152)671$3,630Open access (DOAJ)0.0
International Journal of Biological Sciences115 (84–157)39822≈$1,425Open access (DOAJ)0.56
Protein Science116 (89–153)416≈$4,480Hybrid0.66
Clinical and Translational Medicine116 (85–152)313$3,640Open access (DOAJ)1.59
Genes & Development116 (80–154)87129Open access0.0
Mobile DNA116 (73–145)5121$3,190Open access (DOAJ)
Plant Biotechnology Journal117 (80–176)57120$4,750Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Trends in biotechnology117 (74–179)27329≈$7,0300.0
Cellular Oncology117 (90–149)10534$2,380Open access (DOAJ)1.88
BMC Genomic Data117 (85–167)10421$2,290Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Briefings in Bioinformatics118 (87–155)738$3,885Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Phytomedicine119 (88–160)1,3652≈$3,6300.24
Folia Microbiologica119 (60–166)17819≈$2,590Hybrid0.0
Cancer Science120 (83–148)27615$2,600Open access (DOAJ)1.74
Cell & Bioscience120 (93–161)17919$2,990Open access (DOAJ)1.05
FEBS Open Bio120 (83–160)17814$2,480Open access (DOAJ)5.47
Acta Botanica Yunnanica120 (91–160)956No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Horticulture Research121 (97–156)32810$2,960Open access (DOAJ)0.66
Epigenetics & Chromatin121 (96–161)8819$3,290Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Carcinogenesis121 (88–183)82≈$4,8352.21
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes121 (82–166)713≈$3,870Hybrid0.0
aBIOTECH121 (88–135)5521≈$2,190
European Journal of Pharmacology122 (90–162)1,0091≈$3,2300.0
Biological Research122 (82–220)7820$2,890Open access (DOAJ)0.0
European Biophysics Journal122 (81–178)7124≈$2,4900.0
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects123 (86–165)1333≈$3,310Hybrid0.0
Human Mutation123 (73–189)11935≈$2,740Hybrid0.0
Acta Pharmacologica Sinica124 (97–153)25237≈$4,390Hybrid0.0
Oncology Letters125 (98–155)50833Open access6.38
Biomedical Reports125 (98–166)17527Open access0.0
Proteins Structure Function and Bioinformatics125 (92–168)15914≈$4,5500.0
BioEssays125 (75–158)10314≈$5,3300.0
Bioinformatics Advances126 (91–161)3254$2,620Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Plant and Cell Physiology126 (90–185)171≈$3,085Hybrid1.26
Cell Biology International126 (90–193)12915≈$3,7302.58
Biophysical Journal127 (92–170)4293≈$3,000Hybrid0.0
Forensic Science International Genetics127 (90–170)1312≈$5,0200.0
Molecular Pharmacology127 (95–160)747≈$3,600Hybrid0.0
Molecular Biotechnology128 (88–191)17126≈$3,7900.0
Molecular Microbiology128 (91–183)7415≈$4,430Hybrid0.0
Biotechnology Advances129 (92–162)2152≈$5,4600.0
Mitochondrion129 (95–173)612≈$3,2200.0
Clinical Epigenetics130 (85–190)23325$3,890Open access (DOAJ)0.99
BMC Medical Genomics130 (91–242)21422$3,290Open access (DOAJ)1.43
Cell Biology and Toxicology130 (100–161)14425≈$4,1900.0
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences131 (91–189)47937$4,390Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer131 (99–161)2623≈$5,0700.0
Journal of Cheminformatics132 (103–171)18825$2,390Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Neurochemistry133 (82–183)307≈$5,3300.0
Molecular Medicine Reports133 (105–163)30638Hybrid10.8
Developmental Biology133 (84–206)2262≈$3,550Hybrid0.0
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine133 (102–168)21935Open access5.55
FEMS Microbiology Reviews133 (85–179)66≈$3,371Open access (DOAJ)0.0
BMC Genomics134 (95–198)1,28222$3,190Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Open Life Sciences134 (96–172)19765≈$2,423Open access (DOAJ)2.91
Human Cell134 (83–189)16015≈$2,4905.13
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology134 (96–180)752≈$3,8402.05
BioFactors134 (97–177)68≈$4,1502.45
Human Genetics and Genomics Advances135 (103–173)1304$2,640Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biotechnology Progress136 (94–182)9921≈$4,1602.1
Stem Cells136 (92–193)77≈$4,477Hybrid0.0
Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology136 (74–169)6216≈$4,670Hybrid0.0
Scientific Reports137 (94–201)47,22817$2,850Open access (DOAJ)1.64
BMC Bioinformatics137 (93–206)32827$3,090Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease138 (105–196)4134≈$4,010Hybrid0.0
Phytochemistry138 (112–166)2721≈$4,3500.0
Developmental Dynamics138 (92–192)7826≈$4,4300.0
The Plant Journal139 (99–194)640≈$5,450Hybrid0.4
Chemical Biology & Drug Design139 (85–223)191≈$3,9200.0
New Biotechnology139 (102–218)1024$3,180Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Clinical Proteomics139 (80–175)5234$2,690Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Cell Death Discovery140 (107–192)61617$2,790Open access (DOAJ)1.24
Structure140 (95–206)18925≈$9,350Hybrid0.0
Genomics141 (108–187)2062$3,460Open access (DOAJ)0.85
Metabolomics141 (89–203)16427≈$3,890Hybrid0.0
PROTEOMICS141 (93–183)13519≈$4,6501.39
Journal of Biomedical Informatics142 (110–172)1898≈$3,4100.0
Journal of Ginseng Research142 (98–211)935No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biotechnology Letters143 (98–203)12715≈$3,8901.64
Molecular Genetics and Genomics144 (99–214)12126≈$3,9901.8
Animal Microbiome145 (109–190)13427$2,290Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Molecular Therapy146 (36–190)5585≈$4,500Hybrid3.26
Cancer Gene Therapy146 (118–184)11614≈$4,990Hybrid11.08
Current Biology147 (94–208)53627≈$7,030Hybrid0.0
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research147 (114–187)1793≈$3,930Hybrid0.0
Biochemical Genetics148 (93–211)27714≈$4,0901.64
Journal of Molecular Evolution148 (117–242)5819≈$4,0900.0
Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters149 (113–186)16329$2,990Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Extracellular Biology149 (123–190)6636$3,340Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Human Genetics150 (92–204)8624≈$3,6900.0
The American Journal of Human Genetics151 (110–211)19125≈$5,1500.0
Nucleic Acids Research152 (79–240)1,496$4,192Open access (DOAJ)0.32
Molecular Biology and Evolution152 (114–206)329$3,255Open access (DOAJ)0.0
The Journal of Pathology152 (106–214)11945≈$5,450Hybrid0.0
Plant Communications153 (106–196)2603$3,500Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Molecular Oncology153 (103–216)19319$4,730Open access (DOAJ)1.02
NAR Cancer154 (118–195)6028$2,391Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Cell Science155 (101–204)21046Hybrid0.0
npj Systems Biology and Applications155 (113–203)15225$3,490Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Cellular Physiology155 (107–190)93≈$5,230Hybrid0.91
Patterns155 (121–191)8527$4,900Open access (DOAJ)0.0
NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics156 (125–204)21727$2,633Open access (DOAJ)1.26
Plant Molecular Biology158 (102–207)11931≈$4,5900.0
Plant Direct158 (100–225)8926$3,120Open access (DOAJ)0.0
mLife158 (122–185)56124$2,500Open access (DOAJ)
Molecular Therapy — Methods & Clinical Development159 (114–206)1914$3,900Open access (DOAJ)0.0
MicrobiologyOpen160 (112–235)178$3,720Open access (DOAJ)0.0
PLoS Genetics161 (118–217)37321$3,165Open access (DOAJ)0.47
Experimental & Molecular Medicine161 (113–211)23385$4,690Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine162 (106–235)594$5,730Open access (DOAJ)1.66
Cell Research162 (118–193)5934≈$5,190Hybrid0.0
Journal of Molecular Cell Biology163 (106–219)62$2,730Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Aging164 (109–267)140212.44
British Journal of Pharmacology165 (116–229)30440≈$4,780Hybrid0.73
Life Science Alliance166 (117–210)15513$3,500Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Bioinformatics168 (121–229)619$3,798Open access (DOAJ)0.51
Cancer Cell International168 (113–243)50319$3,290Open access (DOAJ)3.52
Molecular Systems Biology168 (104–215)9922$8,270Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Stem Cells Translational Medicine168 (121–239)75$2,822Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Gene Therapy169 (134–251)7114≈$3,7900.0
Current Microbiology170 (119–239)64416≈$3,990Hybrid0.43
npj Biofilms and Microbiomes171 (135–220)25521$4,390Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Molecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids171 (130–223)2314$3,900Open access (DOAJ)8.36
Database171 (129–216)80$2,598Open access (DOAJ)0.0
EMBO Molecular Medicine172 (128–237)17522$8,270Open access (DOAJ)1.39
Development173 (125–224)24439Hybrid0.0
Journal of Theoretical Biology173 (130–250)1788≈$2,5500.0
Beneficial Microbes173 (120–257)5221Hybrid0.0
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics175 (125–238)2123$4,020Open access (DOAJ)0.0
GigaScience177 (131–221)152$2,638Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Cell Discovery177 (141–215)6750$3,690Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Oncogenesis178 (130–213)5121$4,390Open access (DOAJ)3.64
Stem Cell Reports179 (118–230)18229$4,400Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Cell chemical biology179 (126–238)10922≈$9,350Hybrid0.0
The Journal of General Physiology179 (103–293)5327Hybrid0.0
FEBS Journal180 (124–232)40115≈$5,0000.0
Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry181 (110–234)19321≈$3,470Hybrid5.19
iScience182 (133–254)2,5054$3,240Open access (DOAJ)0.26
Oncogene182 (146–226)31514≈$5,990Hybrid2.31
EMBO Reports184 (112–248)28921$8,270Open access (DOAJ)0.66
BMC Biology186 (136–271)37418$3,790Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Interdisciplinary Sciences Computational Life Sciences187 (134–257)12443≈$3,9900.0
Microbiome188 (129–256)27852$5,190Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Archives of Pharmacal Research188 (130–264)6112≈$5,2900.0
Disease Models & Mechanisms189 (128–240)11747$4,250Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles191 (144–243)170$4,850Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Molecular Ecology Resources191 (128–283)14816≈$5,2502.39
Medicinal Research Reviews192 (68–275)5218≈$4,9800.0
Cell Death and Disease193 (153–248)96318$5,250Open access (DOAJ)2.14
PLoS Biology194 (128–261)43128$5,500Open access (DOAJ)1.01
Molecular Cancer Research195 (145–249)710.0
Molecular Horticulture195 (143–253)58148$2,600Open access (DOAJ)
The EMBO Journal196 (134–251)31927$8,270Open access (DOAJ)0.7
Cell Genomics196 (145–278)17728$8,900Open access (DOAJ)0.0
PLoS Computational Biology201 (148–267)79823$3,165Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Cytometry Part A202 (126–247)5915≈$3,970Hybrid0.0
Cell Reports204 (160–274)1,53422$5,790Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Cancer Cell206 (31–307)20323≈$10,400Hybrid0.0
Bone Research208 (176–260)9972$3,525Open access (DOAJ)2.98
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics209 (157–271)174Hybrid0.0
Cell Reports Methods210 (148–274)17826$4,970Open access (DOAJ)0.0
The Journal of Cell Biology212 (157–280)23235Hybrid0.0
Molecular Biomedicine212 (142–278)14020$2,990Open access (DOAJ)0.0
npj Regenerative Medicine214 (128–265)6324$4,390Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Genome Medicine215 (167–294)16424$5,490Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Communications Biology217 (165–292)1,96916$4,390Open access (DOAJ)0.4
Cell Metabolism223 (150–341)16328≈$10,4000.0
Molecular Cell224 (105–323)33124≈$10,400Hybrid0.62
Cell Death and Differentiation225 (180–282)19212≈$5,790Hybrid0.0
Nature Protocols232 (192–309)171730.0
Genome Research234 (181–309)20762Hybrid0.0
eLife235 (133–409)8715$3,750Open access (DOAJ)0.0
BioMed Research International239 (155–320)20535≈$2,680165.35
Nature Communications242 (178–329)12,01519$7,350Open access (DOAJ)0.27
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology243 (187–357)16340≈$12,690Hybrid0.0
Nature Computational Science244 (195–296)10042≈$12,690Hybrid0.0
Nature Plants246 (174–333)17639≈$12,690Hybrid0.0
MedComm256 (201–331)46437$3,850Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Cell stem cell266 (131–346)11925≈$10,400Hybrid0.0
Nature Biotechnology275 (189–394)14142≈$12,690Hybrid0.0
Nature Microbiology279 (205–386)22342≈$12,690Hybrid0.0
Developmental Cell280 (102–385)20524≈$10,400Hybrid0.0
Cell287 (185–399)47827≈$11,400Hybrid0.48
Genome biology288 (211–384)43418$5,690Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Cell Systems312 (221–410)13827≈$9,350Hybrid0.0
Nature Cardiovascular Research316 (233–432)8641≈$12,690Hybrid0.0
Nature Chemical Biology322 (233–396)17339≈$12,690Hybrid0.0
Nature Cell Biology335 (245–416)15147≈$12,690Hybrid2.11
Nature Methods338 (260–417)20947≈$12,690Hybrid0.68
Genomics Proteomics & Bioinformatics350 (204–448)142$3,650Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Nature Genetics390 (287–509)26042≈$12,690Hybrid0.0
Nature Biomedical Engineering482 (384–588)20248≈$12,6900.0

Journals are listed where at least 25% of their articles' topics fall in Molecular Biology (OpenAlex).

Latest available year: 2024

23 journals without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2024 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2024 figures only
Open access
Biophysics Reports43 (27–74)59No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)
Biomolecular NMR Assignments50 (36–82)5112≈$3,890Hybrid0.0
Biophysics and Physicobiology60 (37–92)552≈$258Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology68 (46–103)9223≈$4,510Hybrid0.0
Essays in Biochemistry71 (54–90)500.0
Cell Stress and Chaperones72 (35–98)543$2,850Open access (DOAJ)10.53
Plant Biotechnology76 (51–108)56Open access0.0
Angiogenesis90 (68–141)5121≈$5,490Hybrid0.0
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics94 (64–144)674≈$4,6800.0
Oncology Research Featuring Preclinical and Clinical Cancer Therapeutics100 (80–132)1521560.0
European Journal of Protistology101 (67–135)502≈$3,2700.0
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines103 (84–119)80≈$3,0000.0
Amino Acids106 (71–159)5921$3,690Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry108 (78–149)9916≈$5,1101.77
Transgenic Research112 (77–225)5126≈$3,990Hybrid0.0
European Journal of Cell Biology123 (97–165)753$3,010Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Neoplasma125 (77–173)510.0
Molecular Informatics133 (92–152)51≈$3,8000.0
Phenomics167 (124–223)57197≈$3,990
Genes & Diseases171 (118–217)24827$2,500Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Chinese Herbal Medicines178 (125–250)564$1,200Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Bioinformatics and Biology Insights209 (129–256)8146$2,650Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education290 (242–381)6013≈$3,7000.0

Latest available year: 2023

11 journals without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2023 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2023 figures only
Open access
Genomics & Informatics83 (54–132)5566$2,390Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Molecular Recognition94 (57–129)5718≈$3,8000.0
Biological Chemistry100 (71–130)7620Hybrid0.0
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms104 (78–147)676≈$3,8400.0
Current Molecular Pharmacology106 (75–154)620.0
Development Growth & Differentiation111 (59–173)5423≈$3,9900.0
Briefings in Functional Genomics111 (87–137)53≈$3,7000.0
Yeast117 (77–164)5017≈$3,980Hybrid
Acta Biochimica Polonica125 (74–202)96$1,750Open access (DOAJ)2.57
JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry126 (101–160)5540≈$3,9900.0
Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics145 (81–229)5315≈$3,9902.1

Latest available year: 2022

12 journals without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2022 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2022 figures only
Open access
Journal of Developmental Biology39 (31–53)515≈$2,200Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Oncotarget55 (42–98)6016Open access0.0
Life Medicine58 (34–81)544No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)
Frontiers in Genome Editing60 (39–93)5823≈$3,117Open access (DOAJ)0.0
The Journal of Membrane Biology71 (47–95)5724≈$3,890
European Journal of Histochemistry72 (47–111)5220≈$1,385Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Emerging Topics in Life Sciences80 (55–100)57
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews - RNA95 (73–154)5827≈$4,7800.0
Glycoconjugate Journal97 (70–132)5221≈$2,590Hybrid4.61
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology119 (93–161)10916≈$3,8903.13
BMC Molecular and Cell Biology141 (112–184)5614$2,590Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology146 (88–192)605≈$4,2600.0

Latest available year: 2021

11 journals without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2021 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2021 figures only
Open access
Current Genetics63 (32–93)7419≈$4,390
Genes and Environment79 (58–112)5820$2,590Open access (DOAJ)
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology82 (59–103)76$2,756Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Biotechnology for Biofuels95 (66–139)21813$2,990Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Engineering in Life Sciences95 (73–131)7223$3,630Open access (DOAJ)15.81
Chemistry and Physics of Lipids103 (76–126)634≈$3,8700.0
Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes114 (82–141)5514≈$3,7900.0
Cells and Development115 (85–176)598≈$3,4500.0
Journal of Pediatric Genetics126 (87–183)6451
Science Advances156 (115–208)1,02247$5,450Open access (DOAJ)0.17
Molecular vision269 (192–397)622No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)4.85

Latest available year: 2020

9 journals without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2020 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2020 figures only
Open access
Cellular and Molecular Biology20 (10–141)183310.0
Journal of Bacteriology62 (40–110)19162No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Molecular and Cellular Biology85 (59–132)68680.0
Journal of Biomolecular NMR86 (73–105)5214≈$3,790
Extremophiles93 (59–137)5915≈$2,590
Current Genomics94 (71–128)66
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis98 (63–132)5421≈$3,7500.0
Cytogenetic and Genome Research104 (81–150)56860.0
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica142 (83–179)60≈$1,862Open access (DOAJ)0.95

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Frequently asked questions

Which Molecular Biology journals accepted papers fastest in 2025?

Among 389 Molecular Biology journals with enough dated articles in 2025, the shortest median time from submission to acceptance was 17 days (Doklady Biochemistry and Biophysics). The middle journal's median was 113 days. Speed is not a measure of quality; check scope, indexing and fees too.

How are these times measured?

From the submission and acceptance dates publishers deposit in PubMed, for accepted articles only. Each journal needs at least 50 dated articles in the year shown, and a table headed with a year contains only that year's figures.

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Data sources. Submission, acceptance and publication dates: Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed, entries through Sep 15, 2026). NLM does not endorse Journal Clock, and these figures may not reflect the most current PubMed data. Journal fees and open-access listing: DOAJ (CC0, retrieved Sep 16, 2026). Fees paid by institutions: OpenAPC (Open Database License, retrieved Sep 16, 2026). Retractions: Retraction Watch Database via Crossref (retrieved Sep 16, 2026). Journal identifiers and topics: OpenAlex (CC0). Currency conversion: ECB reference rates (Sep 15, 2026). How these numbers are calculated · For organisations.