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 ...
I’m sorry to hear that, HTB. But a loved cat is a cat at peace.
Speaking of spiders.
That there’s a big one.
The Caddis fly style hidden xagthrath might like this.
This will be interesting.
Very sorry to hear this.
May comfort find you and keep you.
So sorry. I know George T. will be missed.
Oh, HTB, I am so sorry for your loss. I saw a thing on FB yesterday, where a person had taken the food bowl of her pet (dog?) and placed the pet’s collar around it and planted succulents. Perhaps something that would help your aching heart.
Sending virtual hugs your way and a box of tissues.
Obviously, my ISP is still alive. I’ll go shower and then transfer everything over when I get back.
Don’t go away. ;o]
I coughed a lot during my sleep, so I’m treating myself to some teas to help alleviate some of it. Then I’ll go make the bed and swap out the ISP. Depending on how I feel after that, I’ll remove the box from the TV and make sure the Roku is functioning.
My son said they pay about $30 a month for certain programs they like with Roku but they rest they get are free. I think this will be a good decision, especially in view of the cost of my phone/fax and ISP.
UPS came about 1830 last night with my order from iherb. I forgot to get expedited service, so it took two days.
I still have to get some things from Walmart, but I’ll do that after I’m sure that the TV and ISP/fax are all working.
Babble-babble-babble.
RIP T. Cat. Dawn and evening is forever safer with “the cat” on patrol. Hang on to your machine gun though jic
Adorable! This one looks absolutely angelic! (Haha)
I noticed a thing yesterday saying Hulu is now $5.99 a month. I don’t know what it used to be. When it was free, they had a lot of stuff to watch.
It’s a trick.
It's FRIDAY!!!!!
Happy Friday, ArGee!
I have some admin work to do for one of my church committees this morning. Then we’ll go to Walmart and get some food supplies for tomorrow’s Cub Scout hike. Then we’ll pick up Pat at school and go to the Museum of York County, SC, so the science-team participants can look at pelts and skeletons and stuff.
Well. That’s a fine how-d’ye-do.
I plugged all the things into the modem, and read the next step and I need a line from the phone jack to the modem, and I have no phone. I got a line splitter and some phone cord, but while the current modem is on the desk, this one has to be elsewhere because of the phone line. Now, I’m thoroughly confused.
The phone jack is to the left of the (wide) kitchen doorway. The printer/fax etc. is to the right of the kitchen doorway. The service is ostensibly already on as of yesterday, and the phone is also ostensibly on its way. In the meantime, here I am, waiting for the current lame cable/ISP to be shut off, and only the Roku is hooked up but I think I’ll hook up the modem until such time as I can get another piece of phone cord.
I wish I knew how to test it.
That all sounds very confusing, but you’ve obviously got some Webs somehow, which is good.
Looks like I have to forego Century Link. The little phone line “snap” is missing from the wall jack, so I’ll have to stay with TDS, much as I don’t want to. Now I have to tell Century Link. And TDS because when I sent in the last payment I included a note to cancel the ISP.
GAH!
Century Link no longer does bidness with ‘Face. The modem and accompanying apparatuses (apparati?) are on their way back to Century Link by this afternoon.
At the moment, I can say, it wasn’t worth the effort.
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.