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 ...
However note, off to the right, there appears to be daylight under one of the rails. If they were seriously trying to deal with a situation, they could route the hose under the rail with a bit of spade or mattock work.
Maybe they were just dis-track-ted.
At the moment he spoke, I didn't doubt for a minute where he was from. He should have stayed there.
THAT qualifies for The First LOL Of The Day Award!
No but it vaguely resembles that of Henderson...
Hi. I hope you are doing well.
Of course I can’t find it now, but there is a recent photo of a Florida panther dragging a four foot shark out of the surf.
IIRC, Collier county beach. Maybe near Naples? Marco Is.?
5.56mm
Was this the pic?
That was it.
You rock.
Yes, our Christmas was great.
May you and yours have a healthy and prosperous new year.
5.56mm
Correction. Three foot shark.
Oh well...
5.56mm
Four foot panther. Zero foot shark. The shark had no standing.
Healthy, that’s the plan.
Prosperous, that depends on the Fed abandoning the Resistance.
But, thanks for the wishes, and same to you.
Excellent observation.
Good evening. I had a nap with two cats. Now it’s getting dark.
He was in Mumbai.
Actually just a prime example of the results of our modern government operated indoctrination centers, AKA public schools..
I’m sure that will work..
Hope they notified the railroad to hold traffic, otherwise we will wait for the video.. ;-)
(Doesn’t seem to be in a US locale though, seems the crossing protective device is on the wrong side of the road. Could be Brittan though. They drive on the wrong side of the road intentionally..)
“I makin’ deez sharp and dey be pointy fings to scare you wif!”
On my way to the shower but I’ve lost another three pounds. Yay, me!
It seems a cold is trying to catch me as the last 90 minutes of “sleep” was filled with coughing fits. Hopefully, the shower will loosen up some of the congestion. These things always start as head colds, but migrate to my lungs, and that’s really bad for the lungs, being compromised and all.
Good morning. Watch out for claws!
DP poked me in the back of the head at 5:15, so I figured it was time to get up. Cats were glad to get their bowls filled.
I am pleased to be blessed in a similar fashion.
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