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The Pentagon Wants to Make an Army of Virus-Spreading Insects. Scientists Are Concerned.
.livescience.com ^ | October 5, 2018 12:57pm ET | Brandon Specktor

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 ...


TOPICS: Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: aphids; boycethompson; cornelluniversity; crispr; darpa; hurricaneutah; insectallies; ithaca; molassesmiasma; monkeyfacerules; newyork; nithaca; ohio; ohiostate; pennstate; pennsylvania; texas; undead; undeadthread; undeadthreadhere; uoftexasataustin; workingdogs
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To: Tax-chick; Monkey Face; Silentgypsy; moose07
Good morning...


2,761 posted on 01/11/2019 2:44:08 AM PST by Covenantor (Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern. " Chesterton)
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To: Tax-chick

Dat floof is going to grow up to be one excellently elegant kitteh.

Good morning. I will go to Walmart this morning, but not until later. The larder is a little on the scant side, but not yet critical. It’s tough being without wheels!

But now, I’m headed for the shower.


2,762 posted on 01/11/2019 2:49:17 AM PST by Monkey Face (I'm not much for seizing the day. Instead, I just kinda poke it with a stick.)
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To: Monkey Face

I hope you make it to Walmart! I’m taking the van to the mechanic this morning. It’s making a sound I don’t like. Tom will drive the car over and bring me home; he doesn’t have class until 12:00.


2,763 posted on 01/11/2019 2:50:36 AM PST by Tax-chick (What can I do to fight entropy today?)
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To: Covenantor

“It’s okay, now, Spot: it’s Friday!”


2,764 posted on 01/11/2019 2:51:42 AM PST by Tax-chick (What can I do to fight entropy today?)
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To: Covenantor

LOL!


2,765 posted on 01/11/2019 2:52:24 AM PST by Tax-chick (What can I do to fight entropy today?)
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To: Tax-chick

LOL!


2,766 posted on 01/11/2019 3:06:05 AM PST by Covenantor (Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern. " Chesterton)
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To: Tax-chick

Yes, Walmart is calling me. I need to race through the aisles again! Walking to the mechanic and racing through Wally’s are not comparable!


2,767 posted on 01/11/2019 3:45:43 AM PST by Monkey Face (I'm not much for seizing the day. Instead, I just kinda poke it with a stick.)
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To: Tax-chick

Cute squee!

Hey, happy Friday! I’m still here!


2,768 posted on 01/11/2019 4:55:34 AM PST by Not A Snowbird (Furloghed and okay with it. BUILD THE WALL!)
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To: Not A Snowbird; Monkey Face

Happy Friday! Every day with catz is a good day.

Tom brought me back from dropping off the van, singing along with one of his humongous-ego theme songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79DijItQXMM


2,769 posted on 01/11/2019 5:24:53 AM PST by Tax-chick (What can I do to fight entropy today?)
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To: Tax-chick

That song does stick in your head!


2,770 posted on 01/11/2019 5:27:41 AM PST by Not A Snowbird (Furloghed and okay with it. BUILD THE WALL!)
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To: Not A Snowbird

Tom is 6’4”, built like a mountain, and has long, curly dark hair. He has acted out the whole scene with Kathleen as a prop!


2,771 posted on 01/11/2019 5:29:30 AM PST by Tax-chick (What can I do to fight entropy today?)
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To: Tax-chick

We need video next time!


2,772 posted on 01/11/2019 5:34:21 AM PST by Not A Snowbird (Furloghed and okay with it. BUILD THE WALL!)
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To: Tax-chick

How cute! Yes, 6’4” can be intimidating at times. At least until you remind them that you used to change their diapers.

;o]


2,773 posted on 01/11/2019 5:44:03 AM PST by Monkey Face (I'm not much for seizing the day. Instead, I just kinda poke it with a stick.)
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To: Monkey Face

Also, I’m smarter than Tom.


2,774 posted on 01/11/2019 5:45:49 AM PST by Tax-chick (What can I do to fight entropy today?)
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To: Tax-chick

Yes, there is that! And something I learned from my own short mother was that dynamite comes in small packages. She was referring to herself, of course. :o]


2,775 posted on 01/11/2019 5:49:00 AM PST by Monkey Face (I'm not much for seizing the day. Instead, I just kinda poke it with a stick.)
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To: Silentgypsy

Well, I certainly was tardy all yesterday. The bell rang at about 8:00 yesterday and I barely paused until EOD. Today may be like that, too, except for a 9am bell.


2,776 posted on 01/11/2019 5:56:40 AM PST by ArGee (I trust people with freedom more than I trust government with power.)
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To: Tax-chick; Monkey Face; Silentgypsy; Darksheare; Covenantor; no-to-illegals; NicknamedBob; ...

Good morning. I’m here, but I may not be for long.


2,777 posted on 01/11/2019 5:59:13 AM PST by ArGee (I trust people with freedom more than I trust government with power.)
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To: Monkey Face
It’s tough being without wheels!

Actually, it's quite a nice way of life in a city with good sidewalks where everything is nearby.

2,778 posted on 01/11/2019 6:00:10 AM PST by ArGee (I trust people with freedom more than I trust government with power.)
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To: ArGee; Tax-chick; NoCmpromiz; Silentgypsy; NicknamedBob

But I’m not in the city any more. The town is 14,000 and there is no real “business district.” Walmart is 4.5 miles away in the high desert at 55 mph, and the DMV is four miles farther at the same rate of speed.

There are sidewalks, but only three traffic lights, and yet, nothing is “nearby.” The nearest grocery store (think Trader Joe’s) is a mile away across from the USPS. I love it here because the scenery is absolutely beautiful, but after 35 years in the city, it’s more of a culture shock.

But I’ll adjust. This is “home.”


2,779 posted on 01/11/2019 6:09:23 AM PST by Monkey Face (I'm not much for seizing the day. Instead, I just kinda poke it with a stick.)
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To: ArGee; Monkey Face; Tax-chick
"it's quite a nice way of life in a city with good sidewalks where everything is nearby."

Somehow I just know you're not talking about San Francisco.

2,780 posted on 01/11/2019 6:14:41 AM PST by NicknamedBob (If you can't do something well, you won't do anything good.)
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