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 ...
;>)
Snarly Harley finally peed the last time I tried, but that was also the time he snapped at me. She’s home now, so its OK. He can keep snarling and barking.
The laundry is done and hanging up to dry, and I’m going to get a few things ready for donation, and with luck, the recliner will go with it. At first, I thought of selling it, but that would mean putting a photo of it on FB using my phone, and I do NOT want FB on my phone. Maybe I can just post the ad without the photo. I think I’ll try that, first.
Hopefully, I can get the mess out of my living room! How much fun would that be?? ;o]
Thank you for the precious!
Dat floof is so squee! Next to marmalades, I like tabby’s best. And then the Noregian Forest cat, and the Russian blue, and... and...
Allergies.
I’m waiting at the radiology practice for a mammogram. I have discovered why everyone is so hostile and irritable these days: television. It’s so annoying!
Bob have not seen any plans but a line is in the works/plans for NC. Bet the military has some in use (opps did I say that) if one or more are in the works for citizens
*in my best Elvis voice* Thank you very much!
There’s nothing better than seeing an animal who rests quietly. (An animal who has been abused or neglected previously.)
urkhhh
Wow!
You are amazing!!!
I hear ya! Any more, its like I want a cup before I even get out of bed.
Yes indeed! It’s the first Monday of the week!
Try to have a good morning, anyway! :o]
Howdy! I fed the cat, the temp was -9. That is one tough cat. It is black I thought its eye where green. They are not they are gold colored. Halloween cat! Take care!
The biggest issue is trying to make sure everything gets left in a good place before I leave this job tomorrow.
que bella voce!...
you’re quite welcome.
Good on ya for takin care of the catz.
Sorry to learn of your FB trouble. There’s a growing group of Freepers over at MeWe you might check into.
One thing about FB I was wary of was linking that login to anything else. Made the mistake of linking FB to my Spotify account — found out it’s a one-way trip. There’s no way to unlink FB ftom Spotify without creating an entirely new Spotify account and working with Spotify helpdesk to migrate all your tracks and playlists from your old account. It’s a royal pain.
Lesson learned.
I link nothing with nothing else, anymore.
I don’t want to imagine being so cold!
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