Since the publication of the Eleventh Edition of Henderson's Dictionary of Bio- logical Terms new words have entered the biological vocabulary and old ones have acquired new and more precise meanings. Progress in genetics, cell biology and biotechnology continues to be rapid, driven by the genome sequencing programmes, the use of gene manipulation and advances in experimental cell biology. The classification of the living world followed in this edition reflects the recent division of all living things into three domains or superkingdoms. Entries in the body of the dictionary are given for all the main phyla, divisions and classes of plants, fungi, animals, protists and prokaryotes (Bacteria and Archaea), with some orders being included for groups such as the insects, birds, mammals and fiowet- ing plants. There are also entries under many common names of organisms. The appendices at the back give a fuller outline of the various kingdoms. Viruses are covered by entries for the main groups and in an appendix.