the Node - the community site for and by developmental biologists

Time 2020-09-26 11:03:17

Web Name: the Node - the community site for and by developmental biologists

WebSite: http://thenode.biologists.com

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If this post causes a sense of déjà vu, it might be because you ve read our recent articles: An Introduction to Writing Review Articles and Getting involved in peer review. For #PeerRevWeek2020, I thought I d explore the intersection of these two topics.Although there are guides to train potential peer reviewers for reviewing research articles, the format and purposes of reviews aren t the same, so they must be approached from a different perspective and assessed by different criteria. You might even be an established group leader by the first time you ve been invited to evaluate a review simply because there are just fewer of them than research articles. So, what does an editor expect from your report? Broadly speaking, you can think about it in terms of A, B, Cs.AccurateThe most important role of a peer reviewer is to make sure that the review articles are scientifically accurate. By this, I mean that statements should be factually correct, with appropriate references that support the conclusions. Accuracy also extends to the structure of the article. For example, does the title and abstract actually reflect what is covered in the review? Figures, although schematic and simplified, should also present the latest interpretation of the data accurately.BalancedNext, think about whether the review is balanced. As a whole, think about whether the articles covers everything you d expect to see on the topic; make sure to point out if a large body of work is missing and check that the reference list isn t biased! Even for opinion pieces, it is important that review-type articles are balanced and provide both sides of an argument. It is helpful for the authors to point out ongoing debate or controversy in the field, especially for non-specialists who might not be aware of the types of discussions that are happening. Where the authors propose new ideas and hypotheses, it is important that they distinguish these points from established facts. In addition, remember that studies have both strengths and weaknesses, and that techniques or approaches have their advantages and limitations are both sides acknowledged?ClearReview-type articles are read by specialist and non-specialists alike, so it s important that they are clear and accessible to a broad audience. For journals that developmentally edit or copy edit manuscripts, many of these points will be addressed by the in-house editor although it is still useful for them to know what you think needs work, even if you don t provide a point-by-point list of necessary changes.It s crucial that language and phrasing is clear and unambiguous to avoid confusion or misinterpretation. As an expert in your field, it might be easy to gloss over an acronym that you re familiar with or to know that a gene or cell exists by two (or more) names. Take care to check that authors always introduce and define new terms, and use them consistently. Think about whether the structure of the article prepares you for what to expect and whether you can navigate the article easily. Most reviews should guide the reader through the article and provide all the necessary background to make links in thought between data and conclusions. Finally, are the figures well designed, well presented and intuitive? Would additional figures, boxes or tables help to clarify text and illustrate important key points?SpecificsOn occasion, an editor might raise specific queries with you about the manuscript. For example, if the article is very long, they might ask if you can identify specific parts that could be cut. Alternatively, they might notice a lack of recent references and might ask if the article is timely, as well as a whole range of other questions.Some last thoughtsRemember to be polite, courteous and constructive in writing your report.Try to be specific refer to line or page numbers if you have concerns with a particular statement.Most articles will be proofread before publication, so there often isn t the need to list every typo you find.Do highlight if you think spelling, grammar or punctuation should be addressed, but avoid suggesting that it should be read by a native English speaker . This suggests that authors with English as a second language write less well then native English speakers this is simply not the case!If in doubt, ask the editor for guidance. (No Ratings Yet)Loading... In this episode, sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific, we’re taking a look at how genomic technologies are transforming cancer care now and in the future, and the importance of making sure that these advances are available to all. Development presents… is a new webinar series showcasing the latest developmental biology and stem cell research. The webinars are chaired each month by a different Development Editor, who invites talks from authors of exciting new papers and preprints. First authors are particularly encouraged to present their work we hope the series will become a[ ] Read More A notice from Royal Society Publishing Royal Society Publishing has recently published a special issue from Philosophical Transactions B  Contemporary morphogenesis, organized and edited by Kyra Campbell, Emily S Noël, Alexander G Fletcher and Natalia A Bulgakova. The articles can be accessed directly at www.bit.ly/PTB1809 Purchase the print issue at the reduced price of £35(usual[ ] Read More Our brain is immersed in a clear, colourless, nutrient-rich fluid called the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provides mechanical support to the brain and helps to circulate important molecules for brain development and function. Within the interconnected cavities of our brain, the CSF flows in and out constantly. The CSF is actively produced by the choroid[ ] Read More Please, always run specificity controls with Morpholinos. Morpholinos can reveal gene functions that can be concealed by genetic compensation in a mutant, but rigorous specificity controls are essential to determining whether a morphant phenotype is due to knockdown of the oligo target or an unexpected interaction with a different RNA. The Morpholino-in-a-mutant approach described in[ ] Read More By Hanna L. Sladitschek and Pierre A. Neveu Our body consists of a multitude of highly specialized tissues: the neurons in our retina seem to have little in common with the glandular cells in the intestine or our muscle fibers. Yet nothing hints at that complexity at the time of conception, when the genomes[ ] Read More Winged insects are the most diverse and numerous group of animals on Earth. This great diversity has been possible thanks to the acquisition of novel morphologies and lifestyles. How the changes in their genomes contributed to the appearance and evolution of these traits is key to understand how this lineage adapted and conquered the huge[ ] Read More A lot is changing in our world, but your research can not and will not stop! With this aim, “Spotlight on Neuroscience: Exploring new ways of to light up your research” has been organized to bring together key leaders in the neuroscience field for a series of live talks, Q As and latest on-demand webinars. Taking place[ ] Read More In this episode we’re going back to the very beginning, telling the stories of the midwives of the field of developmental genetics, two talented researchers whose work helped to reveal the secrets of life in its very earliest stages: Hilde Mangold and Salome Gluecksohn-Waelsch. Contact usDo you have a question or suggestion for the Node?Contact us 2020. The Company of Biologists Ltd | Registered Charity 277992 Registered in England and Wales | Company Limited by Guarantee No 514735 Registered office: Bidder Building, Station Road, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9LF, UK

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