Genes and Environment: providing open access to environmental mutagenesis and genomics studies for global cooperation

Abstract

Genes and Environment has been published since 2006, following the prior title Environmental Mutagen Research, the publication of which began in 1978 as the official journal of the Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society (JEMS). The aims and scope of the journal are to accelerate communication among scientists working globally in the field of genes and environment. The journal publishes articles across a broad range of topics including environmental mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, environmental genomics and epigenetics, molecular epidemiology, genetic toxicology and regulatory sciences. Genes and Environment was first published quarterly as a print journal, and all articles were freely accessible on the journal website. As a result of extensive discussion, JEMS concluded that a better platform to disseminate research and to share it with scientists globally is required due to great progress being made in the field of gene and environment research, particularly in Asia. To achieve this, JEMS decided that open access to all articles would be provided via the major platform, BioMed Central. Some Asian countries have experienced adverse effects of environmental pollutants on human beings and ecosystems for several decades, and now many Asian countries are facing various issues regarding environmental pollution, mainly due to rapid economic expansion. These past experiences should provide lessons for other countries. Scientists should be able to access research papers on environmental pollution and their health effects freely. Furthermore, some recent pollution is not just an issue for one country, but also for surrounding countries. We need a common platform for scientists globally to collaborate and to resolve these gene and environment issues. I introduce some of my personal experiences on these issues and comments in the following sections.