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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

Sometimes I can find the small cans and sometimes not. In this Walmart, they have an entire aisle of bulk foods and I’m thinking they cater to the larger families. It’s probably easier to find at Lin’s, but I sure hate to pay their prices. The only break that store give is with their meats. And they only sell Angus beef.

I might do better to look at a mini-mart that caters to folks with not a lot of space for large items. I’ll check.


3,161 posted on 01/24/2019 6:16:10 AM PST by Monkey Face (I before E except for eight sleigh-riding neighbors seized by Keith a counterfeit heir. Weird.)
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To: Monkey Face
I’m thinking they cater to the larger families.

That would make sense! The Monroe Walmart has a different selection of stock from the one nearer me. I don't avoid it because the clientele are rather lower on the socioeconomic scale. I avoid it because the parking lot is laid with perpendicular rather than diagonal spaces and two-way rather then one-way driving. It's scary trying to park.

3,162 posted on 01/24/2019 6:18:44 AM PST by Tax-chick ("Leadership's defining quality is honesty." ~ Maj. Dick Winters)
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To: Tax-chick

This Walmart has parking areas designed for everyone. Perpendicular, diagonal, RV, disabled, emergency vehicles... I guess that’s what happens when you live on the outer edge of a camper/hiker/biker paradise. And two roads in. It’s easier to go to the farthest entrance because it’s closer to the doors.

Some things are cheaper than in Henderson and others are much more expensive. I stick with what I know.


3,163 posted on 01/24/2019 6:23:27 AM PST by Monkey Face (I before E except for eight sleigh-riding neighbors seized by Keith a counterfeit heir. Weird.)
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To: Tax-chick

Please follow the directions closely and stretch very gently.


3,164 posted on 01/24/2019 7:12:16 AM PST by Silentgypsy ( “If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.”__Scorpion)
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To: Not A Snowbird

Do you get to retire soon?


3,165 posted on 01/24/2019 7:17:38 AM PST by Silentgypsy ( “If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.”__Scorpion)
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To: Silentgypsy

Definitely!


3,166 posted on 01/24/2019 7:30:45 AM PST by Tax-chick ("Leadership's defining quality is honesty." ~ Maj. Dick Winters)
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To: Tax-chick

I got started on the bathroom furniture, and will do another couple of things, like putting the moldings on it and then give it a rest until tomorrow, at which time, I hope to get it all put together. It’s not the first time I’ve put one together, but this one is by far the best constructed, as far as pieces and design.

So this and the cabinet will look nice when they’re finished.

It looks like the title to the BB SUV is in today’s mail, as well as my 1099, so I can get my DL on payday. YAY! (I know this, because I have “Informed Delivery Digest” from the USPS.) I can’t think of anything else that would come from the tax commission!


3,167 posted on 01/24/2019 9:09:06 AM PST by Monkey Face (I before E except for eight sleigh-riding neighbors seized by Keith a counterfeit heir. Weird.)
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To: Silentgypsy

I’m eligible in July, but I’ll wait until Sep 2020. I get a 10% bump in my annuity if I wait until I’m 62.


3,168 posted on 01/24/2019 9:20:45 AM PST by Not A Snowbird (Furloughed and okay with it. BUILD THE WALL!)
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To: Tax-chick; Monkey Face; NicknamedBob; NoCmpromiz; null and void; no-to-illegals; Silentgypsy; ...

Hai.

Busy day. I started by falling full out onto my right side (arm outstretched). Fortunately, nothing more than a big knot on the shin I barked on the barrier I walked into. Oh, and my ego has a big rip in it.

I hope my suit pants aren’t ruined. I just bought a new suit (not this one) and I don’t want to spend more money.

But I’m thankful I didn’t break my shoulder again. So far everything is working.

Oh, and the circuit panel for our building was replaced successfully overnight and Mrs. ArGee has power.

They still haven’t paid the heat bill here. Yes, SG, I have warm things to put on.


3,169 posted on 01/24/2019 9:26:21 AM PST by ArGee (I trust people with freedom more than I trust government with power.)
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To: Monkey Face

The sun isn’t so concerned with doing its duty now that the world is going to end in 12 years.


3,170 posted on 01/24/2019 9:29:52 AM PST by ArGee (I trust people with freedom more than I trust government with power.)
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To: Monkey Face
Getting up later seems to dull my brain. If that makes any sense!

It makes perfect sense to me. You were designed to live in Hawai'i.

3,171 posted on 01/24/2019 9:32:36 AM PST by ArGee (I trust people with freedom more than I trust government with power.)
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To: Tax-chick

Well, since you asked, it won’t be math, it will be 2x math. And as a reward for finishing, we’ll do math.


3,172 posted on 01/24/2019 9:34:35 AM PST by ArGee (I trust people with freedom more than I trust government with power.)
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To: ArGee

That would be nice ;-).

Tom the Son, in his superhero persona, “Adult Man,” is replacing a light fixture. I think he’s grown even taller. Any time now, he’ll get the wires correctly wired, so the light will come on. I hope.

Maybe I should have called Juan, my lighting installer.


3,173 posted on 01/24/2019 9:38:51 AM PST by Tax-chick ("Leadership's defining quality is honesty." ~ Maj. Dick Winters)
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To: ArGee

Well, phoop. Adult Man has given up. If his dad can’t get it wired, I’ll text Juan tomorrow.


3,174 posted on 01/24/2019 9:42:12 AM PST by Tax-chick ("Leadership's defining quality is honesty." ~ Maj. Dick Winters)
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To: ArGee

I’m so sorry you fell! I hate when that happens. Bruised shins don’t bother me unless I hit them again.

It’s good to know you survived the fall, the Mrs has power, you didn’t break your shoulder and that you have warm things to wear in your cold environment.

So happy Friday Eve!


3,175 posted on 01/24/2019 10:06:03 AM PST by Monkey Face (I before E except for eight sleigh-riding neighbors seized by Keith a counterfeit heir. Weird.)
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To: ArGee

Ummm...Hawai’i is a place I don’t think I could afford to live. I’ll stay where I am, thanks! ;o]


3,176 posted on 01/24/2019 10:09:50 AM PST by Monkey Face (I before E except for eight sleigh-riding neighbors seized by Keith a counterfeit heir. Weird.)
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To: Tax-chick

Oh, boy! “Adult Man” ended up being a character from one of Gallagher’s infamous skits, eh?

Well, he’s not being paid to be as good as he’s suggesting, I’m sure. ;o]


3,177 posted on 01/24/2019 10:13:59 AM PST by Monkey Face (I before E except for eight sleigh-riding neighbors seized by Keith a counterfeit heir. Weird.)
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To: Monkey Face; ArGee

He had a brilliant idea, reset the breaker, and made the light work. There’s a reason you haven’t seen Adult Man in any hit movies; he’s definitely 3rd-tier.


3,178 posted on 01/24/2019 1:19:47 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Leadership's defining quality is honesty." ~ Maj. Dick Winters)
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To: ArGee
now that the world is going to end in 12 years.

Is it really the world, or just the part of The Bronx that voted for that prophetess?

3,179 posted on 01/24/2019 2:20:54 PM PST by NoCmpromiz (John 14:6 is a non-pluralistic comment.)
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To: Tax-chick; ArGee; Monkey Face
"Well, phoop. Adult Man has given up. If his dad can’t get it wired, I’ll text Juan tomorrow."

There aren't many ways to do that wrong, but there are a couple.

I think I'd have fun describing how to sort out a supervised alarm loop. The simple explanation involves imagining that the wires stretch like rubber bands.

3,180 posted on 01/24/2019 2:22:27 PM PST by NicknamedBob (If you can't do something well, you won't do anything good.)
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