Science In a Social CONtext is a series of eight books based on the project SISCON-in-Schools. The books provide a new course in science and society for general studies at sixth-form level. The course has been specially designed to make scientific problems accessible to the non-scientist, as well as to explain the social aspects of science to the scientists. This book is used in a unit which focuses on evolution. The first part of the unit concerns the voyage of the Beagle and the emergence of Darwin's theory of evolution. Topic areas considered include: early ideas on evolution; the voyage of the Beagle; the mechanism for evolution; religious reaction to evolution; evidence for evolution; social Darwinism; eugenics; birth control; and racialism. The second part of the unit starts with some simple facts about genetics in an attempt to make sense of moral, medical, and legal dilemmas connected with genetically handicapped babies. Genetic defects of babies, genetic counselling, new ways to start life, mutations, and genetic engineering are then discussed. (JN)