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 ...
Of course, DARPA could just create an army of Brundleflies instead. Unlike this project, the Brundleflies won’t be too small and numerous to keep track of.
I hadn’t seen The Fly in many years, forgot what the Brundlefly was.
For those wondering too, here’s the ending scene from The Fly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH-8L1iZq20
It should be obvious but HUGE SPOILER ALERT in the video.
You’re welcome. I hope you’re having a nice day!
She Who has finally completed the task and been driven off by the Adult Houseguest. I deduce from her eye-rolling and door-slamming that She had made (undisclosed) plans involving my car.
*snicker*
One who studies Japanese culture should be more attentive to personal behaviors.
I am totally clueless in such matters, but even I know better than that.
Japan is supposed to be tidy, too.
Oh, T-c, that is absolutely great! Did She Who really think that with her USMC sister as a houseguest, She would get the use of the vehicle?? LOL! Good job, Marine Mom! :o])
I’m told She griped about not having unfettered use of the car, and also over having to clean something. It was super fun for me; I’ll have to do it more often.
Elen said She texted to say she has to work at her nanny job this evening. I don’t believe it, but I’ll treat it as true and say, “Don’t be silly - you worked on Wednesday!” if I’m asked for gas money.
LOL!! I know exactly about that “super fun” feeling! I think I’ll experience a lot of that in the next three weeks!
If people would just act in a civilized way, we could avoid so much annoyance.
I do appreciate your wry sense of humor.
(She’s good, isn’t she?)
*Thanksgiving tagline*
Same, Bob.
“See dese sharp pointy fings? Dey ready to grab da turkey!”
Good morning. I was looking at the last 80 Thanksgivings in photos. Interesting stuff, but moreso when the color pics changed to black and white. Canned cranberries have been available since 1917.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May your day be pleasant and filled with good deeds, good people and good food.
We have so much to be thankful for!
:o])
‘Face
Yep. That looks like some of the folks around here...
So that happened.
Idiot drove his vehicle straight into my truck entrance gate.
Totaled his vehicle.
Gate now has a kill.
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