This four-volume set for middle and high school students and above covers the history, theory, technology, and uses (and misuses) of genetic knowledge, from classical to molecular to population genetics. The 258 signed entries are alphabetically arranged and discuss topics such as inheritance, from Mendel to the present; genetic diseases, and how genes influence various disorders; biotechnology, with an emphasis on lab techniques used in many high school classes; ethical, legal and social issues, including genetically modified foods and cloning; history of genetics; and careers. About 300 color illustrations support the text.