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 ...
So sweet! Thank you!
Kitteh says, “Ho, ho, ho, yourself, fat boy!”
She’s packing a .38 Special in that muff.
Their trials were very humanizing to me. I can better identify with them for that.
A Difficult Season
This is a most difficult season. We've traveled a distance this year.
I'm growing increasingly worried. My dear wife and I are in fear.
Our journey has been quite a hard one, and others have passed us in haste,
If we are to find some comfort, we haven't a moment to waste.
But she could give birth any minute. This motion is not a good thing.
We'll need to rest long when we get there, and we'll need all the coin we can bring.
This traveling back to my hometown, means that I and my child will share,
This place of birth and our kinship, with others who dwell about there.
The town is decidedly crowded. There's not a room to be had.
The innkeeper lets us take shelter, in a stable nearby. It's not bad.
The earthy smells are a comfort, somewhat like a scent of new wood.
As a carpenter, I know I'll rest easy, if my wife will agree that it's good.
I would think it could be a bit festive, with a pine bough to sweeten the air,
And a candle or lamp, to keep out the night damp, but I sit on the straw and just stare.
For beyond the smoke of our camp-fires, I can see a bright star in the sky.
The heavens may have their works revealed, but I cannot spare them my eye.
For my wife is finding comfort, in the straw of our rude little space,
And so, like it or not, I'm preparing, to welcome our child in this place.
So a food trough becomes a first cradle, as he comfortably makes it his own,
All swaddled about, with his face shining out, he can reign like a king on his throne.
When I get to a place I can work at, I'll make a good cradle, and sound.
A carpenter's son shouldn't have to accept, some rough sticks in a bad part of town.
NicknamedBob . . . . . . December 16, 2008
How very touching, Bob. Your poems always inspire. They often bring a tear or a laugh, but I seldom ever come away from them untouched.
Thanks, Bob! I’d like to print it and frame it and hang it with the Christmas things.
:o])
Good morning to you, Sg. :o]
I’m waiting for Monday to be over with, but thanks for the morning greetings!
You should do that then. You have my permission.
Orange cats are cute.
I don’t trust that face.
Even Garfield and Heathcliff..
:p
Thanks! I did! ;o])
Some girls from my church had a beautiful interpretation of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel yesterday.
Afternoon, epople. I’ve got music arranged for Christmas. Now I just have to get ready for December 30 and January 6. Sometimes the schedule just turns out like this. You’d think I could work it out better, since I make the schedule!
Anybody who waits until January sixth to have an epiphany is probably going to miss most of the parties.
Good point.
One of my favorite hymns.
Thank you, Bob.
A pile of floofs! YAY!
Good morning. I think.
Nothing much got done yesterday except the laundry, but it was probably because I was so tired and spaced out. I don’t know if today will be much better, but I’m going to try to get rid of the “island” in the middle of the living room floor.
As for putting more things away, I think I’ll have to roll up the linens and swap closets with what I’m using for the pantry, though both are in the little hallway between the bathroom and bedroom. Yep. I can see it all now. “Oh, nothing. Just getting some things from the bathroom pantry...”
And now, I need to get dressed and see how many of my clothes are dry.
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.