Posted on 10/06/2018 2:02:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Pentagon research project called "Insect Allies." Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the project involves using gene-editing techniques like CRISPR to infect insects with modified viruses that could help make America's crops more resilient. If a cornfield were hit by an unexpected drought or suddenly exposed to a pathogen, for example, Insect Allies might deploy an army of aphids carrying a genetically modified virus to slow the corn plant's growth rate.
According to the DARPA website, these "targeted therapies" could take effect in a single growing season, potentially protecting the American crop system from food security threats like disease, flooding, frost and even "threats introduced by state or non-state actors.
Insect Allies, is less concerned. "Anytime you're developing a new and revolutionary technology, there is that potential for [both offensive and defensive] capability," Bextine told The Washington Post. "But that is not what we are doing. We are delivering positive traits to plants We want to make sure we ensure food security, because food security is national security in our eyes."
Insect Allies is still in the early stages of development, and at least four U.S. colleges (Boyce Thompson Institute, Penn State University, The Ohio State University and the University of Texas at Austin)have received funding to carry out research. Bextine told The Washington Post that the project recently achieved its first milestone testing whether an aphid could infect a stalk of corn with a designer virus that caused fluorescence. According to the Washington Post, "the corn glowed."
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Funny, but we don’t have to deal with “Alternate Side Parking for Snow Removal.” Maybe, if I end up in Cedar City, I may have to deal with it, but then...
My dad was one of The Best Weather Foreguessers of all time. He would go out and stand on the porch, long about 10:00 PM, hands in his pants’ pockets, and in 15 minutes, he would come back in and announce to all in the house what the weather would be on the morrow with no mistakes. Including the temperature for that night and the next day. I had no clue how he did it.
The deer had antlers. The cat did not.
I’m about to make sandwiches and cut up apples for tomorrow’s lunch. We have to leave by 6:00 a.m. to be at the Motivational Run. Earlier would be better. Elen gets liberty starting around 10, and my mother will meet us at the base midday.
James are nagging me to do laundry already.
Do you have lemon juice for your cut apples?
The food geniuses have bred up an apple that doesn’t turn brown when cut, but it will take a while to percolate through the distribution system.
It would seem that every time I’m about to toss in the towel and head for the nether regions, something happens: Greg and his over-loud stereo; the Wednesday train with accompanying horns and whistles; another phone call from an unknown number that won’t leave a message; And my own query, what the hek is going ON???
I call it Wednesday.
I find they do okay in ziplock bags.
Good to hear that you and crew arrived safely!
Happy Thorsday!
Good morning. I hope you manage to rest while you’re there. As Igor would say, “A change is as good as a rest!” I’m excited to see photos of the new Marine with Mom and Dad.
Evidently, I was more tired than I thought because I did the infamous “I’ll just lie here for a minute” trick, and an hour later, I actually get up, swearing my eyes didn’t close. Until I looked at the clock.
Thorsday it is. Unngh.
Congratulations on Daughters graduation
Grandma and Grandpas awaited arrival of new Granddaughter has taken place. She is 21 inches, 7 lb 7 oz, named Autumn. We are proud of our newest member of our family and are happy to share this news. Mother and child are both doing well
No snow. But I didn't have to move the car.
Not exactly the ping list, but here's something for you.
Congrats on baby and older babies.
Thanks, ArGee, for the kitteh!
Happy Friday Eve to you as well.
I got bogged down in genealogy this morning so I’m very late!
:o]
Happy Thorsday!
Congratulations!
Lol and thank you!
RIP Roy Clark.
If you all hear thunder later today, it will just be the angels dancing to his guitar.
That’s sad. The late Igor and I saw him in Reno when we got married. He was absolutely an entertainer!
Yep. And I can still remember how I laughed the first time I heard, “Thank God and Greyhound You’re Gone!”
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