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 ...
I sat in the truck in the church parking lot and thought, “Welcome to Hurricane!” Then, as I went to unlock the door here, “Its just another year and I’ll get through it!” It is and I will!
It is just another year, and you will get through it. It will be nicer later in the year, and you’ll soon feel as if you’ve lived there forever.
I didn’t know bunnies had access to Uber. Or maybe that was Lyft.
Lyft, I think.
And now for this public service(?) message..
I just thought ArGee could use this...
Yep. Had to be Lyft.
(Neither Lyft nor Uber are available in Hurricane.)
Dat kitteh looks like “You tryna kid me? Dis is MONDAY!”
Good morning.
Either I was very stressed yesterday, or the week of sleeplessness caught up with me, because at one point last night, I slept five hours. That seems to be about the max for me, but I’ll try to beat my own record. Maybe one day soon, I can go to six hours!
It’s 42° and cloudy according to the weather foregnosticator on my fonebone. The clothes have been sorted so all I have to do is head out the door. I had found a tiny little flashlight at Dollar Tree, and that’s about how long it lasted. I need a light to see the electronic lock on the laundry room door because if I miss a digit, it will glow red and give a very loud buzz!
The only other thing on my agenda for today is to call the mechanic and find out if he can take a look at the BB SUV, and perhaps give an estimate. Of course, all bets are off if he wants me to bring it to him. I have unlimited towing with AAA, but it would seem that towing a vehicle to and from the mechanic would take the tow truck away from people who really need it.
At least you don’t need to car to get to the laundry. And I’m sure there are slow times in the day for the tow truck, during which he could make a non-emergency tow.
Congratulations to Vlad.
Can he name a country where conservatives can go to live in peace?
I know, that’s a toughie.
So, it wasn’t a total loss of a day.
Here I am again.
Not sure whether that’s an announcement or a warning.
Happy Monday.
That’s most helpful. Thank you, Face.
Good morning. I’m glad you’re here.
And I’m glad I’m here where you and the rest of the UT denizens are.
I truly do try to look out for my friends, ArGee! Mondays is Mondays, and I once had a roomie that totally could not handle Mondays. She was the comptroller for the Clark County Fire Department, and though I never saw her do anything different on Mondays than any other days (I worked as a temp in her office) she would get up in a totally horrible mood.
So in a roundabout way, I know how ugly Mondays are for some people. *hug*
I’m trying to resume a school schedule after too much time off. Everything is such a hassle! Frank wants to use the bathroom, but all the bathrooms are long-term occupied by someone else. Blanketty-blank, I said. Do I have to call 911 to get you out of there?
No, I don’t have to drive to the laundromat any more. But one of the top loaders was awaiting a part, so I had to use the front loader. That delayed my laundry-doing by 30 minutes by the time it was over.
Not to mention the fact that I didn’t get out of here in a timely manner, and left my phone home. I forgot to take my pills before I left, and by the time I was done with the laundry, even the puzzle book I was working on didn’t hold my interest.
I think on this Monday, I agree with ArGee. And for the record, ArGee, I’m glad you’re here, as well!
pounce
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