prayer was common in schools all over the US. Most people didn't believe in evolution and went to church every Sunday. With all that, this country was still at the height of its power economically, technologically, militarily, and every other way. People drawn to science aren't going to be put off by the religious views of others. That's never been the case.

Most of my family's fairly religious, and yet I'm not. When I graduated high school, there was a prayer during the ceremony. It didn't bother me at all. I didn't bow my head but had no problem with the vast majority who did. This really is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

The vast majority of genetic research going on in this country is privately funded. It dwarfs the funding from the public sector. That's how I hope it stays. Public funds usually come with way too many strings attached. I'm far more concerned about people like the uni bomber, PETA, ALF/ELF and all of the other anti GMO/biotech groups. When's the last time christian radicals stormed a research lab or threatened a researcher?