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 ...
What a pretty floofy squee!
Last night was the Night From Heck. I had just dropped off to sleep when Greg decided to play with one or both of his cars. All I could hear, of course, was the heavy bass thump-thump, no music. For an hour. It was enough. It was after 1800 when he finally went in but it was after 2000 before I was able to sleep. Then I began to cough and sneeze. Have you ever sneezed in your sleep? It’ll wake you up for sure!
I hope I’m not coming down with something. That wouldn’t be good at this time. I’ve accumulated some things that I needed at the time I got them, but won’t need them again for a while, so I need to pack them.
And I need to rearrange the area where the birds are so they aren’t in the draft. They are in a flight cage, so the bookcase had to be moved to the bedroom, and now I have to rearrange that room to clear a path to the window. State law. But who’s watching?
There’s something to be said for the days when people were physically active most of the time and ate wholesome, natural foods. Diabetes was almost unheard of before the 20th Century, and heart disease almost as rare.
Your great-uncle had a good system!
I hope you’re not coming down with something, too. Are the birds male or female?
I suspect they’re male, for several reasons. Unless they are fledglings together, two females in the same cage are a disaster. If one is male and the other female, they would be mating, whether there is a nest box or not.
When the sun comes over the yardarm, I’ll take a better look at them. I tried not to stress them more than necessary after I got them. I’m just glad I had some distilled water for them. If I’d had a bottle of room temperature water I would have given them that, but all the bottles are in the fridge.
Distilled water has nothing in it that will help their little bodies, so I need to get water for them. Maybe I’ll just buy a gallon of drinking water for them and a small case for me to get me to payday.
What time are you leaving for the Great Outdoors?
I’ll be heading for Walmart as soon as I can. It still rankles me that they aren’t open 24/7. I could go to WinCo, but I don’t think I can afford the gas. What’s in the tank has to last me until payday.
By the size of the cage (17” square by 33” tall) I’ll either have to pay big bucks for a cover or get some inexpensive yardage. Maybe 2-1/2 yards of 45-60” dark medium weight for warmth and “night time” security. Maybe I’ll check eBay for that.
In your opinion, did the song fit the section that I did post?
Yes, actually! I didn’t have them side-by-side, but yes. Now I’m more interested in getting the “REST of the sto-ry.”
I love the way you write. SO much fun to read! :o])
It should be illegal to put that much cuteness into one package!
.
“Lest there be no flesh saved..”
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Precious, thank you!
And listing to starboard. Needs ballast redistributed.
Maybe the table is sideways.
LOL!
A large clap of thunder woke me up almost exactly at 0200. Then it rained a little, then a little more thunder, and I have no idea what its doing now besides smelling clean and fresh like no other place on earth.
(It would be so nice if I could move away from here. Finally.)
The weather turned over night, wind picked up, temperature dropped. I’m glad I’m not at camp. Cats were in and out of the bedroom all night.
Wow! Another pretty floof with opal eyes! Squee!
Good morning.
I don’t think any critters tried to get in last night, and the cage was very quiet. (Still working on names...)
I found a local vet not too far from here who does bird things, and there was a coupon for $25 as well as a message that said the first visit is free for an animal that is adopted from the local shelter. I’ll call them after they open to see what’s up and try to find a carrier for the birds. There was one on eBay yesterday for $9.95 with free shipping, but I couldn’t get it because I had already been to Walmart! It was big enough for both of them.
It’s letter-writing day again, and I’m not much in the mood for it. However, it needs to be done.
Charlie wasn’t feeling well yesterday, and the symptoms he related put me on the alert for a possible heart problem. But then he said the pain was in his lower back, on both sides, and he thought it was probably some kidney problems. If he’s drinking this horrible water here, that’s a good possibility. I hope he feels better today.
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