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 ...
My daughter, deciding to go full on Scot, (which she isn't, because her mother was French-Canadian) decided to "collect swords." I don't know if she still has them but she kept them in a closet, and never did display them.
That being said, Elen, USMC, could have decided to order worse things. Greg, the neighbor in Espinoza collected arcane weapons, such as the "knife-glove" of Freddy Kruger fame, and cane swords.
This is a good time of year to be at 29 Creosote Bushes, because the heat, and the monsoons will still be a ways away by the time she graduates from that training. Good luck to her!
“I foun’ a Sunbean!”
Good morning. I woke up to a real living room, this morning, and it felt good to be able to walk through to the kitchen and feel at home, finally. I didn’t realize what a difference this would make in how I feel, but I know, now. I’m so glad I was able to put it down. It will have to be moved closer to the desk as its in the path to the coat closet. But I’ll rassel with that tomorrow.
How is your back feeling this morning? And did you look up sciatica symptoms? It’s good that the hike didn’t seem to make it worse, but things like that usually show up during long periods of being still, like sleeping.
Shower has been had, bed made and breathing treatment done, and now, I’ll sort my pills for the next five days and finish up on the letters, even though they won’t go out until Tuesday.
Good morning. My back hurts less than it did some other mornings in the last couple of weeks, and I can bend over more easily, which is good, because I had to clean up a cat spew as soon as I got downstairs.
PatJamesVlad have to be picked up at 10:00.
I did look up sciatica, and this sounds exactly like it. The websites say, basically, just to wait it out.
This morning, the cats got me up by creating a ruckus in the bathroom.
Sometimes, moist heat will help. I used to use a wet washcloth under a heating pad, but I don’t have a heating pad any more.
Instead of writing letters, I spent the last hour updating my Medicare account. Friday, I worked on the welfare application, but I also spent time on the UnitedHealthcare site. They all want the same things so why don’t they just share? Oh. Sorry. That for the NSA spies to work on. *sheesh*
In just a few minutes, I’ll have to start getting ready for church. I don’t know how it’s going to go today, but I’ll find out. For a long time, I’ve only been able to go to the first meeting because any longer than that would wear me out. We’re talking a three-hour block, but the first meeting was often 90 minutes.
This block has been shortened to two hours and hopefully, I can hang in there. Just being among that many people where I have to be on my best behavior and hope my body agrees to be nice is where I have the trouble. So again, we’ll see.
My god. This subject generated a three thousand plus comment thread?
Our service lasts only about an hour, but we have at least 30 minutes of setup and another 15 or so to clear away when we’re doing the music.
This is the Undead Thread and has been traveling around the Universe in one form or another since 2004, when we reached the End of the Internet!
Welcome! Nicknamedbob has the complete history on his home page if you’d care to check it out!
If I could do something besides sit, it would be better, but the only change is between meetings when we leave the chapel and go to a classroom.
In 1980, we went to the block System because church functions were spread out all over the week and Sunday was usually the only day everyone met at the same time.
The Block System was instituted to try and keep families together more often. There is one night a week for “Youth activities,” but that includes Scouting and Young Women.
I’m going to try and hang in there.
:o]
You should know that once the cats arrive it will continue to be batted about and abused until there's nothing left but fish scales and dust.
Some powdered silicon dioxide may be added to prevent clumping.
I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords.
So will the cats.
I thought we already had those. Oh. Wait. That would be the Left.
I survived the services. I also downloaded the New Testament study manual as well the hymnbook to my phone in the class. Everyone around me had their “gadgets” out and were busily finding the right page, and I’m wondering what I’m missing!
Speaking of the hymnal, I think some changes are in store for that, because in the latest church magazine, a request went out for new hymn submissions. That would be exciting, I think. I was considering buying a hymnal (I had one but it disappeared into the depths of the Igorian Vortex,) and then I read about the new hymnal and decided to wait.
One thing is for sure, though — I need to take my BP pill much earlier on Sunday mornings if I’m going to last those two hours!
Congratulations, and I hope it’s easier next Sunday. We had a successful service, followed by choir practice.
I was a little apprehensive about actually going when I got to the truck. Somehow, my heel caught on something and when I looked down to see what it was, I saw my half-slip around my ankles! I tried surreptitiously to pull it back up and anchor it to my panty hose, at least until I could get to church, when I went into the bathroom. I have exactly two half-slips: the white one is full length and the black one is short. Since the slits in my full length skirt go to the knees, I chose the black one.
But it went into the trash and I will be looking for another half-slip! Nothing else happened, but I only had to get up from my seat twice — once to move to the classroom and once to leave for home. Of course, thinking about it now, I have to laugh!
I suspect next week will be a little easier, as long as my slip stays put. ;o]
So I’ve been writing letters since I got home. And now my brain feels numb. So since tomorrow is a holiday, I’ll be finishing up the letters, once I’m done with the laundry. And probably around 0900, I’ll take the stuff that’s in the truck to the thrift store “pod” because it will be going either to another Stake Center or the St George to be off-loaded, so I want to get it out. Two trips!
Since the recliner comes apart, I can get the saddle soap after it, and once it’s clean, I’ll feel better about donating it.
Wha?
You don’t think virus spreading insects are worthy of three thousand comments?
Just wait till they show up at YOUR door..
;-)
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