then has been rewarding and the stories
behind them equally interesting.
However, the later years were just seg-
ments of the journey, on a path that was
charted by earlier experiences. Despite
living in a publish-or-perish, grant-or-
starve environment, I have done my best
not to deviate too far from that path, and
it is gratifying to know that some of the
work bearing my participation have
made tangible contributions—the lucifer-
ase gene as a research tool, and acommer-
cial transgenic corn product derived from
site-specific excision of its antibiotic
resistance gene.
Doing well in a career can be less about
innate ability, education and opportunitythan with motivation and commitment.
Had I not got stuck with the presentation
on genetics and agriculture in Hatch
Echols’ class, I doubt whether this city
boy would have taken an interest in agri-
cultural research. Had I not run into Mrs.
Bogorad on a sightseeing tour, I might
not have spent a year in Shanghai and
come away with an experience that has
solidified my commitment and priorities
in science. Over the years, I had
suggested to many graduate students
that they ought to consider some post-
doctoral time in a less developed
country, but few gave it a second
thought—aside from thinking that I
was nuts.LIFE BOX 9.2. C. NEAL STEWART, JR.C. Neal Stewart, Jr. Professor and Racheff Chair of Excellence in Plant
Molecular Genetics, University of TennesseeNeal Stewart, pondside, where most of
this book was edited.My childhood years in the 1960s were
spent on a small family farm not far
from the proverbial Mayberry in North
Carolina. My grandfather was the
farmer and all of his daughters, includ-
ing my mother, built houses on adjoin-
ing property, like satellites around the
home planet. As suburbia encroached
and grandpa grew ill and died, the
1970s rolled in and life went on. Farm-
life and nature were chief interests in
childhood and formative years, but also
were hot rods. Biotechnology is kind
of like that too—a combination of
nature and technology that is somewhat
of a paradox.
In college I majored in horticulture and
agricultural education. I was either
going to grow flowers or teach. I had
told myself that I was not smart
enough or a good enough student to
really go into science. A spiritual awa-
kening at the end of my college years
coupled with a few-year stint of teaching
middle school (in-school suspension of240 MARKER GENES AND PROMOTERS