The Pentagon Wants to Make an Army of Virus-Spreading Insects. Scientists Are Concerned.

.livescience.com ^ | October 5, 2018 12:57pm ET | Brandon Specktor

[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."

[Monkey Face]

Indeed. He does. And He is very mindful of my needs.

[Monkey Face]

*tagline

[Tax-chick]

Some of us have Tom the Son!

[Tax-chick]

[Monkey Face]

Those of us who have Toms the Sons are lucky, indeed! Inner dragons need so very much attention!

[Monkey Face]

That looks like one of the Coyote Fodder kittehs that has been running around here of late. She was under the BB SUV yesterday morning.

Good morning. I slept in so the bathroom was a little on the cold side this morning when I took my shower but its ok.

I have to look for some letters, and then I’m going to start shredding papers. Maybe I’ll put together another box and finish up in the kitchen, too.

[Covenantor]

"...when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss ...

...reveals two on coming trains...RUN!!!

[Tax-chick]

Sounds like a plan. We’re going on a hike this morning and then have to go straight to the Spanish Mass.

[Tax-chick]

“Mah bowl empty.”

[Monkey Face]

There are lots of places to hike around Hurricane! Enjoy your day!

[MayflowerMadam]

Awww... sweet kitty!

[no-to-illegals]

Beautiful markings on the kittah (imho). Prayers all is well for everyone and their everyones

[Silentgypsy]

We watched “Bell, Book and Candle” yesterday. The pendant reminded me of Piwacket. Have a grand Sunday!

[Monkey Face]

*tagline*

[Tax-chick]

The Cub Scouts hike was nice, only occasionally rainy. We had time to stop at the grocery store for some lunch before we needed to arrive at church. My voice was just passable, due to the Parris Island Crud.

[Monkey Face]

It sounds like an enjoyable hike. Lunch is always good, but I’m sorry you still have the PI Crud. I hope it doesn’t last long.

[Tax-chick]

I don’t feel bad: I just have a croak in my voice.

[NicknamedBob]

"I don’t feel bad: I just have a croak in my voice."

Just tell the cub scouts that you were a stand-in Drill Instructor for a couple of days, and the troops needed a lot of attention.

[NoCmpromiz]

An observation.. ;-)

[Tax-chick]

They’d believe it.