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 ...
Thank you for gorgeous Inspired Kitteh!
You’ve done an amazing job in such a short time. I’m sure someone will be glad to have the tubs!
Chuck said he would buy some of the tubs and we agreed on a price, but not a date for the transaction. I’m not going anywhere, but I sure do need the room they take up!
Its not quite so perilous to walk, now that most of the books and things are put away. now of course, I need to find a permanent place for the stereo, rather than the kitchen table. But where? Hmmm...
I still have to sort clothes and write another letter and a couple of cards, but I think some of the cards will be post cards. Maybe, after I get done with the laundry in the morning, I’ll head to Wally’s to get some yogurt and rice pudding and more white bags. Post cards are good!
Further evidence I may not be of your species, human.
Answer is “No”.
YAY !!!
Yes.
What a cute little squee! Odd that band of lighter gray across the face and chest.
Good morning. I’m on the way to the laundry room, and this time, I don’t have to freeze on the drive over. I have to freeze on the walk over! I don’t recall if there is a chair in there, a table (at least a folding table?) so I need to leave in a few.
Because the Evil Sleeps got me again. Could it be the altitude? I wonder how long it takes for an old body to adjust to an additional 1200’ of altitude?
Off and running!
Good morning. Best wishes on the laundry! Maybe you’ll just end up on a slightly different schedule. Remember you’ve moved a time zone as well as ascended 1,200 ft.
Well. That was an experience, to say the least. I need to buy a flashlight with a larger lens. I almost took a nose dive twice on the way to the laundry room because the “security lights” are more like security candles. Those were some scary trips!
In a few minutes, I’ll be leaving for Walmart (before I hang up the clothes!) to get some post cards, yogurt and white bags. I also need rice pudding and if there is enough, I’ll get the wider lens flashlight.
I need to figure out what is making this place smell. I may have to buy some of those Air-Wick deodorizers as I’m going through the sprays like they were going out of style. It smells like about three weeks worth of sweaty laundry. *blech*
Tom has a deodorizer in his room. Sometimes I forget it’s there and start looking for half-empty containers of Chinese food, because that’s what it smells like.
Mappy Hunday!
Face, glad to hear you’re almost moved in. I’m struggling with your reference to something like V-H-S. ;)
If you have not listened to this marvelous version of “What Child Is This” this Christmas, now is the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IetPAANnhzQ
Walp. Back from Wally’s and the laundry is hanging up to dry.
I found I pair of bike lights, and I think the clear one attached to the front of the “granny cart” will be perfect as it’s bright enough to light the way.
Today, I’m clumsy, and I wonder how much difference it would make if I became a slug for a day. It would seem I’m slightly depressed, as well.
That was quite different and very pretty, ArGee! Thanks! It reminded me a bit of the group Pentatonix, and their Christmas music.
Like Pentatonix, with the exception that Fox and Hound use actual musical instruments.
I particularly liked this because many of our hymns tend to minimize the negatives that Joseph, Mary, and the baby faced being very poor people in Bethlehem. This song captured some of that.
What a great surprise to scroll downward and see this gorgeous face pop up!
thanks for the link
G’orning and thank you!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.