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Editorial Policy

GenoMethods editorial standards for sourcing, evidence, independence, scientific claims, commercial boundaries and corrections.

Updated

GenoMethods publishes independent biotechnology reporting using a methods-first, evidence-first editorial approach. Human editors remain responsible for topic selection, sourcing, verification, context, conclusions and publication decisions.

This policy sets the standards that apply across GenoMethods editorial work. More detailed procedures for fact-checking, corrections, unnamed sources, AI use and rankings are addressed separately so those subjects can be explained without turning this page into a duplicate of every other editorial policy.

Our Editorial Standards

Accuracy
Material facts should be supported by reliable sources and described with the level of certainty justified by the evidence. Where a fact is uncertain, preliminary or disputed, the wording should not imply that the uncertainty has been resolved.
Evidence
Primary and authoritative sources are preferred where reasonably available. The appropriate source depends on the claim: scientific claims, regulatory status, clinical results and transaction economics may each require different supporting records.
Context
Scientific, clinical and commercial developments should be explained in a way that makes relevant limitations and uncertainty visible. Important context should not be removed merely because a shorter version of the story sounds more definitive.
Independence
Advertising and commercial relationships do not determine independent editorial conclusions, corrections, rankings, reviews or topic selection.
Transparency
Readers should be able to distinguish documented facts, company claims, analysis, rankings, reviews and other editorial formats for what they are.
Accountability
Verified factual errors may be corrected, clarified or updated. A disagreement with an editorial interpretation is not automatically a factual error, but the facts underlying that interpretation remain subject to review.
Human editorial responsibility
Human editors remain responsible for final publication decisions. AI use at GenoMethods is limited to creating, preparing or editing images and other visual materials.

How These Standards Apply

Source Selection

GenoMethods may use peer-reviewed research, preprints identified as such, clinical trial registries, regulatory documents, government records, company filings, official disclosures, technical documentation, public datasets and direct attributable statements. Source selection should match the question being answered.

Reputable secondary reporting may provide context, chronology or additional confirmation. Company announcements may document what a company says, but they are not automatically treated as independent validation of scientific, clinical or commercial claims.

Verification

Names, dates, figures, regulatory status, trial details, transaction terms, technical specifications and direct quotations should be checked as appropriate to the article. Verification should focus on the facts that materially affect the reader's understanding rather than creating an appearance of precision where the underlying evidence remains uncertain.

The detailed verification process is described at: Fact-Checking Policy

Scientific and Clinical Claims

GenoMethods aims to preserve distinctions that materially affect interpretation. We therefore distinguish:

  • computational prediction from experimental validation;
  • preclinical findings from human clinical evidence;
  • early biological activity from established clinical benefit;
  • regulatory designation from regulatory approval;
  • scientific feasibility from commercial readiness.

The purpose of these distinctions is not to diminish early research, but to describe it at the stage supported by the available evidence.

Editorial Formats and Labels

NewsReport a documented development and provide the context needed to understand it.
AnalysisInterpret scientific, clinical or commercial significance without presenting interpretation as established fact.
Explainer / GuideClarify methods, terminology, processes or industry structures without removing material complexity.
Review / RankingEvaluate comparable entities using methodology and evidence appropriate to the subject.
InterviewPresent attributable comments or discussion with a source while preserving the distinction between source statements and independent verification.

Headlines should accurately reflect the underlying evidence and should not imply stronger certainty than the article supports.

We Do / We Do Not

We doPrefer primary and authoritative evidence where reasonably available.
We do notTreat promotional claims as automatic independent verification.
We doState material uncertainty where it affects interpretation.
We do notPresent preliminary evidence as established outcomes.
We doSeparate independent editorial work from advertising.
We do notSell favorable conclusions or higher editorial rankings.
We doUse unnamed sources rarely and under editorial controls.
We do notGrant anonymity simply to enable unsupported attacks or speculation.

Commercial Boundaries

GenoMethods currently displays third-party advertising through Google AdSense. Sponsored articles, paid press releases, advertorials and affiliate links are not currently part of the standard publishing model.

Commercial relationships do not provide the right to approve unrelated editorial work, suppress accurate reporting, alter corrections or influence independent reviews.

Paid visibility does not determine editorial ranking position.

AI-Assisted Work

GenoMethods uses AI only to create, prepare or edit images and other visual materials. AI is not used to write, draft, rewrite, summarize, research, fact-check, monitor sources, translate, create metadata or descriptions, tag or categorize content, write biographies, or produce other editorial text.

AI tools must not fabricate sources, quotations, people, credentials, events, clinical results or factual claims.

Sensitive and YMYL Topics

Biotechnology may intersect with health, medicine, regulation, investment and safety. Content in these areas is handled with additional caution because overstated certainty or missing context can materially affect how readers understand risk, evidence or outcomes.

GenoMethods content is informational and is not personalized medical, legal, financial, tax, investment, mental health or other professional advice.

Corrections and Accountability

Verified factual errors may be corrected, clarified or updated. Correction decisions are based on evidence rather than commercial pressure, access considerations or whether a subject prefers different editorial framing.

Corrections policy: Corrections Policy

Corrections email: corrections@genomethods.org

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