It was established in June 2005 by founding Chief Editor Terry L. Sheppard as part of Nature Publishing Group.

Published topics encompass concepts and research methods in chemistry, biology, and related disciplines with the result of controlling biological systems at the molecular level.

Authors (contributors) are chemical biologists, also chemists involved in interdisciplinary research between chemistry and biology, along with biologists who produce research results in understanding and controlling biological processes at the molecular level.

Also included are studies articulating applications at the molecular level when combining these two disciplines.

Emphasis is also given to innovations in methods and theory produced from cross-disciplinary studies.