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 ...
Difficult to grok, eh what?
Maybe we should get out more ;-).
Yes, it is, so while I have you on the line, why don’t we have a party?
I got out a lot more before I lost weight. I got out because there wasn’t enough room in my clothes for me stay in them without bulging.
TMI ...
Iknowhuh? You can always erase it. ;o]
It’s funny but I made it up to fit in with the silly stuff. My bad.
It’s okay. I’m glad you made it up, though ;-).
I lost 4.2 lbs. last week.
Congratulations on the weight loss!
I had to do something for fun, since the day is gray and ugly and I want to go to bed. The hem-job was a hit. It actually looked a lot better than the original one because the crepe was so twisted on the original hem. It’s not twisted any more.
But not on Trash Day.
You two need to stop leaving your weight lying around. I keep picking it up.
Yes but no one said you had to WEAR it! ;o]
Apparently I don’t need to be invited to wear it. <_<
Speaking of that landmark event, it is Tuesday when towards the end of the day the trash cans mindlessly migrate to the end of the driveway in anticipation of an early Wednesday morning visitation from the Interstate Waste people who collect the contents and leave behind an empty shell..
Except that there is presently some solidified glowbull warmthing falling from the sky and the notnecessarilyAccu(rate)Weather foregnosticators are saying that it will continue until the late antemeridian hours of Wednesday. The residue of this event tends to make the assisted migration of these trash receptacles difficult.
I checked the level of collected materials that the receptacles have ingested and have determined that if they are unable to accomplish their migration this week it will not cause us undue inconvenience.
If a similar weather event occurs again next week on ‘take out the trash’ day that WOULD greatly increase the inconvenience factor.
Got any 3s?
We are threatened with Globull Warming, here, too, but I think it’s improbable. Just cold.
Radar says you get the liquid version..
It has rained.
Had to venture out into the abyss to rescue a black cat from himself. Mrs. NoC opened the door to let the in/outdoor cats in and he shot out the door around her feet. Jinx has not been outside since we brought him in when his mother abandoned him.
He promptly figured out that it was not as great outdoors as he thought because there was this white stuff landing on him and covering the ground. He ducked under the barbecue grill for safety.
And the in/outdoor cats go out and within ten minutes they are back at the door seeking asylum from the six or so inches of white.
It’s still snowing.
The solidified glowbull warmthing has passed on to bless the Atlantic leaving behind about 6 inches of fallout. I cleaned off the porch mostly to keep the snow from being swept inside by the storm door.
I noted that the trash receptacles must have decided not to make their weekly pilgrimage to the end of the drive. Can’t say as I blame them.. ;-)
At least not like this.. ;-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.