JC accepts original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere. Manuscripts must align with the journal scope and contribute new insights into chromosome structure, function, or clinical relevance. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all data, images, and references.

Studies involving human participants or animals must include ethics approvals and informed consent statements. Disclose funding sources and conflicts of interest. Preprints are permitted when disclosed at submission. If you are unsure about scope, email [email protected] with a brief abstract.

JC considers original research articles, systematic and narrative reviews, methods papers, short communications, case reports, and perspectives. Length should be appropriate to the contribution. If your work includes extensive datasets, transcripts, or protocols, place supporting material in supplementary files and reference them clearly.

Case reports should emphasize diagnostic significance and provide clear imaging and laboratory details. Reviews should include a structured search strategy when applicable and avoid excessive citation padding.

Figures must be high resolution and legible. Karyograms, FISH images, and CGH plots should be clearly labeled with scale bars and probes or regions of interest. Provide descriptive captions that explain the key takeaway and link to corresponding results.

Supplementary material should support the main conclusions without being essential for interpretation. Provide stable links to repositories for large datasets, video material, or code. If proprietary software is used, specify versions and key settings.

Use clear scientific language and define specialized terms at first use. Keep nomenclature consistent and follow accepted chromosome and gene naming conventions. Equations should be editable and numbered if referenced.

For cytogenetic reports, use appropriate ISCN notation and explain any deviations. Avoid promotional language and ensure claims are supported by evidence or argumentation.

Include ORCID iDs for all authors to improve attribution and indexing. Provide a funding statement with grant numbers and project titles. If no external funding was received, state this explicitly. We also encourage CRediT contribution statements to clarify author roles.

Acknowledgments should recognize technical assistance, data access, or institutional support without implying authorship. Transparency supports ethical authorship and responsible reporting.

Describe sample preparation, culture conditions, staining protocols, and imaging parameters. For FISH or CGH studies, include probe information, hybridization conditions, and validation steps. Karyotype analyses should specify the number of metaphases evaluated and criteria for abnormality classification.

For sequencing based structural variation studies, report library preparation methods, read depth, alignment strategy, and variant calling thresholds. Provide reference genome versions and tool versions to support reproducibility. Where possible, include quality metrics and validation using orthogonal methods.

Clinical submissions should describe patient recruitment criteria, diagnostic workflows, and interpretation standards. For prenatal or cancer cytogenetics, specify sample type, detection thresholds, and confirmatory testing. Include clinical relevance and how findings support diagnostic decision making.

Case based reports should explain why the case is noteworthy and link observations to existing literature. Provide de identified clinical context and clearly state consent procedures. Avoid overgeneralization from single cases and identify limitations.

Include a dedicated subsection describing statistical methods, sample sizes, and the number of independent replicates. Report exact p values where applicable and specify software used. If data were excluded, explain the criteria and impact on results.

Reproducibility is essential. Provide detailed information on coding schemes, observational protocols, or modeling assumptions so other researchers can repeat the analysis. If a model is introduced, describe parameters, validation strategy, and limitations.

Provide a data availability statement and repository links or accession numbers when applicable. Suitable repositories include institutional archives and recognized domain repositories. For sensitive data, describe access restrictions and how qualified researchers can request access.

List key materials, reagents, or cell lines with identifiers. For software or code, include version numbers and licenses. Use persistent identifiers whenever possible. Transparent reporting supports verification and reuse.

JC permits submission of manuscripts previously posted as preprints. When submitting, disclose the preprint DOI or link in the cover letter and reference list. If the manuscript has changed substantially since the preprint version, explain the updates to help reviewers assess progress and novelty.

Authors may use language or analysis tools responsibly, but they remain accountable for accuracy, originality, and ethical compliance. Do not list tools as authors and ensure that any automated processing does not compromise participant privacy or data security. Disclose automated image enhancement workflows.

Use a consistent reference style and verify all citations. Include DOIs when available. Cite primary sources for methods, probes, or datasets to ensure accurate attribution.

Avoid excessive self citation and ensure references reflect the full body of relevant work. Strong citation practices improve discoverability and scholarly integrity.

If revisions are requested, respond to each reviewer comment in a point by point format and note where changes appear in the manuscript. Provide clear explanations when you disagree and support your rationale with evidence.

Revised manuscripts should highlight new text or use tracked changes to assist review. Timely responses help maintain momentum toward publication.

Each manuscript receives an initial editorial assessment for scope and completeness, followed by external peer review. Reviewers focus on methodological rigor, image integrity, and the contribution to chromosome science.

If revisions are requested, highlight all changes and provide a point by point response. Appeals can be submitted to the editorial office with a clear rationale and supporting evidence.

JC operates a transparent open access model. An APC is applied after acceptance to support peer review management, production, DOI registration, and long term hosting. See the Article Processing Charges page for current rates and waiver information.

All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Authors retain copyright and grant permission for reuse with proper attribution. Review the Copyright License page for full terms.

Authors who need language assistance may request support prior to submission. Language editing is optional and does not guarantee acceptance. For details, see the Language Editing Service page.

For questions, contact [email protected]. Clear language improves reviewer focus and strengthens the impact of your findings.