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 ...
Ah’m gonna say a little prayer for you. :-D
It’s nice to know there’s someone out there who knows how much trouble I’m in.
Thanks!
I’m up, but just barely alert and awake. The Muppets are whispering to each other about whether they want me to take the cover off the cage or stay in the semi-dark.
But it’s Monday and its almost time to go over to the ‘clubhouse’ and get the laundry done. Linens. For the first time in three years, I don’t have to wait until I get back to put clean sheets on the bed and clean towels in the bathroom! YES!
I’m up. Cats were fighting in the upstairs hall. I’m getting the kitten now.
What a sweet kitten!
Good morning. I’m about ready to go, but for some reason, I’ve got the S-L-O-W-s. I did sleep, but evidently not very well or I would be a little more energetic.
Oh. Did I tell you the beer here is only 3.2%? If you want wine or something stronger, you have to go to the state operated liquor store. That’s not even fun.
Oklahoma was like that when we lived there. Are people watching to see who goes into the liquor store?
I haven’t found the liquor store here, thinking it would be on a main street, but I’ll have to look it up. Because.
This would be a perfect day for a bit of eggnog with lots of nog in it. Dismal.
If it was on the main street, people would be afraid to park.
Wellnow. I just found it. Nine miles out of town, past Walmart, and it doesn’t open until 1100 and closes at 1900, and closed all day Sunday.
I knew the Sunday part, but it seems to me the stores were open from about 0900 or 1000 to 1900, but its been a long time since I’ve lived in Utah and wanted a glass of wine.
Adorable! Thank you! How’s your Marine doing?
Happiness is clean linens!
Just fine. She’s lying around listening to dreadful music on her computer.
Anoreth and Bill are coming over later.
Yes indeed, SG! The only thing better than clean linens is when they’ve been line dried!
Do you think that the music thing is some sort of sublimation of rebellion leaking out of a few pores? (Sorry, they actually took old Sigmund seriously in the olden days.)
You’re in trouble?
Santa has been reading your posts all year.
Most of you are getting Bibles and dictionaries...
Did you name him Velcro?
No more so than usual.
Don't worry about it though, I'm sure I deserve it.
Ummm...as a matter of fact...*ahem* Yes
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