Along with competitiveness, the public has rightly been obsessed with inequality, the persistent gap in social and economic status between minority and white Americans.

Financing this persistent, although not unexpected, gap between domestic and imported resources was a principal concern for economic planners.

Reading scores of 8th grade students also show a significant and persistent gap (approximately 30 points) between students with and without disabilities.

Yet at the same time, others continue to struggle with the persistent gap between expectations and the refusal of investors to pay top dollar.

"The critical problems causing persistent billion-dollar gaps remain largely unaddressed or unabated by this financial plan," the board said in a 79-page report.

A persistent gap of $1.5 billion to $2 billion each year for the foreseeable future is what concerns Standard & Poor's and other fiscal analysts.

The persistent academic gap between white and black students has touched off difficult and often ugly debates over the question why.

"The real issue is that there are still large persistent gaps."

But for all of DNA's promise, there exists a persistent gap between its potential and its use.

Rollin Haffer is well aware of the persistent gap.