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 ...
Oh, good!
‘morning...
Morning. The cats tell me it’s cold and drizzly outside. Glad I’m not there.
Awww...floofy newborn squee!
Good morning. I’ve been up almost two hours, thanks to NoC and his loud posting of Monday’s cancelation, but the dirty laundry was calling to me, so I knew the cancelation was just wishful thinking. ;o]
Since this is the Monday that I don’t have to wash linens, it should only take me 30 minutes total to get there, wash, and come back.
I spent the last hour finishing a letter to my Real Brother and when I come back, I’ll write one to Charlie. He sure isn’t sounding good, these days.
Good morning. You can’t turn the sound off on Monday cancellations?
I switched my alarm off at 0500, but I woke up again at 0515. Probably a telepathic communique from Jake. Jake has been outside to get wet twice, and Shannon spewed.
Nope, no mute for loud postings, no matter what.
Shannon seems to be spewing a lot of mornings. Morning sickness?
I’m taking the driver’s handbook with me this morning and will read it while I’m waiting. Normally, I’ll do a puzzle in the book, but I want to get the driver’s license business over with! Sheesh!
Hooboy! I went out to go to the laundry room and saw snow! I just finished the letter to my Real Brother, telling him it didn’t snow here, and walked out to find the BB SUV covered with at least half an inch of white flaky stuff!
So Mr Bill got a “christening” present!
You just use the down arrow on the volume-control button ...
Shannon doesn’t chew her food.
Nice snow.
Good morning, everyone. Happy Monday, such as it is.
We trekked to Andreas (pronounced ANN-ders I think) PA on Saturday to visit some friends we hadn’t seen since they moved from Poughkeepsie (pronounced poo-KIP-see) NY. We passed a weapons shop with a skull and crossbones on the sign. Mrs. ArGee remarked that wasn’t very bright for keeping the gun controllers calm. I suggested that was the point.
Anyway, we made it there and back. I liked their 10 acres much better than our 800 sq ft.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/02/salt-lake-city-journal/
Jay Nordlinger from National Review reports, with pictures, on a visit to Salt Lake City.
No such controller on my volume...it’s factory set at “Blaster Mode.”
Shannon reminds me of a kid I knew once. Thankfully, she grew out of it.
I don’t know how long the snow will last but it was doggone cold when I went across the way. I really need to get some warmer clothes. They have them here, but not within my budget.
Maybe when the sun comes up, I’ll change my mind about the novelty of snow on my truck. This proves to me that I really need to get down to Casey’s and have him give me an estimate. I absolutely need to get that defroster working. This is just not good.
It is important to get the defroster working.
Put the phone under a pile of pillows or under the sink? I’ve done that with DP’s overly-complicated alarm clock when I couldn’t figure out how to shut it off.
Especially when the refroster is in such high gear.
Was the gun shop owned by a Skull and Bones Yalie?
A low-crime swamp sounds ideal for mastering survival skills for the scaredy cat.
Thank you for the precious!
I could go to Goober Maps and look. But I don’t think I’ll look for a gun shop while here at work. Bad enough I occasionally hit FR, but I doubt any bot is looking for people who hit FR.
Searching for a gun shop, here in NYC, I’m sure they’re watching for that.
How’s the bionic knee?
Face, my laundry not only makes aggressive sounds; it also stalks me. What you need is an equally-aggressive washer like the one Darks has to teach it a lesson.
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.