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 ...
Indeed. At one time in our lives, I was her guardian, at her request. Like so many people, she has a selective memory. I love her and I have forgiven her.
That’s the only successful way to go about it.
Happy Friday, everyone! We made it.
Although I have a sneaking suspicion that Friday is a scam.
We keep having Friday, but we keep having Monday just 2 days after.
Anyway, rain and 40s today.
Thank you!
Good morning. It’s quite warm here.
G’orning and have a great weekend, y’all!
Same!
I’m going to a Spanish church event tomorrow. I bought several 2-liter bottles of diet soda, because they never have diet soda.
It’s supposed to snow 13 of the next 15 days, according to the weather prestidigitators...
It balances the "ohhell"s in life...
How are you feeling, nully?
You can’t have too many diet drinks available! I used to like those fruit-flavored sparkling waters they sold at Wal Mart.
Me, too. Lime was my favorite; they didn’t always have it in stock.
Have you tried their new line of sparkling waters? It’s still labeled “Clear” but has some great flavors. I like the pink grapefruit and the peach nectar.
I didn’t know they have a new line out. Hubby does all the shopping and fruity water isn’t among his interests. I need to go online and look at their local inventory. P.S. I liked the berry and peach flavors.
I keep forgetting to ask you: Do you have a cuttlebone in their cage or are cuttlebones evil or illegal now?
A cuttlebone was one of the first things I bought for them when I got them. That and some vitamins and food supplements for molting, as I figured the stress would cause a premature molt. (They are not the first rescues I’ve had, so I was ready to do whatever they needed.)
They also had no gravel, and were being fed dollar store food which was almost not food. I hope the vet is right about the beak growth being linked to poor nutrition. That way, I probably only have to take her in once or twice a year.
I love the way the little things are thriving!
:o]
These new drinks are in smaller bottles, like those expensive drinks like Pro-Pel or whatever it is. There seem to be several different berry flavors, like blackberry and kiwi-something. I’m partial to the grapefruit, but there is also Honey Crisp Apple.
Noted. Prayers up for the birdies’ continued recovery!
Thank you! I just told them what you said and they want to sing you the song of their people. I said it wasn’t necessary, but they did it anyway!
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.