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 ...
:D
Are you sure that’s NYC? People there don’t generally stare. (If you do, you’re taking your life in your hands, a la “Wadda YOU lookin’ at?”)
Of course, if one snarls back, “Nothin’ much,” you can get escalation or evaporation. It depends on the presentation. ;)
Yu that’s NYC...saw Moondog many times in mid-town Manhattan.
It’s had a few iterations. That was the Anne Murray version.
I remember it as having a fast, rollicking tempo as if you were skipping rather than dancing. I guess my childhood had more radio in it than I had thought.
Yes, it did have a "fast, rollicking tempo." That was the fun of the song -- it made you want to get up and dance. Well, as far as very short people can dance... ;o]
Pat and James’s Envirothon team was 5th, so they go to State, too. (Top 7 in each region.) Lots more studying ahead for all the boys.
The Morning Floof is extremely appealing, both in coloring and expression!
Good morning. My friend Sharon is going to take my astronomy magazines and give to a relative of hers, so that’s good!
My niece in CA (of recent coffee mug fame) is contemplating moving to Utah and is dismayed by the amount of “stuff” they have. I’m going to write her a letter today and tell her to just get rid of one thing a day. It works.
After I give those books to Sharon, I’ll go to Walgreen’s and get the last steroid, then drop the DVDs off at the library. Sadly. I really was happy that I could watch movies, and then — nothing. :o[ Maybe I can borrow a portable DVD player...
Right now, I need to rearrange my pill-taking chart and see if I can separate them into four doses a day rather than three. Sometimes, they get stuck in my throat, and I hate that.
Congratulations to Pat and James and their team!
When is the state competition and where?
They make portable DVD players about the size of a laptop. We used to have one, but I think it was donated when Certain Parties wouldn’t stop watching movies in their beds instead of sleeping.
I have to go to Walmart today, and I have another church meeting.
The State Envirothon is in Burlington on May 3 and 4. I’ll need to see if there’s a possibility that we can day-trip both days, instead of staying overnight. It would be cheaper than getting a hotel and less of a nuisance than staying overnight with Frank and Kathleen.
My son had a portable DVD player, but he isn’t here, yet...I think I should check the cost of them on eBay and see what I can find. I just really don’t want to give up watching “Midsomer” et al, at all! ;o]
The only meeting I have is with Sharon. I put the Astronomy mags in chronological order for her relative.
Making two day trips at the beginning of the vacation season is a good idea. Frank and Kathleen would probably be easier to handle.
I could drop the Envirothon participants off with the team and then do an activity with the younger kids.
We don’t stare, but we do notice.
Well, two days gone missing. Yesterday I worked until around 8:30 in the p.m. But at least it took less than 5 minutes to move my car to the alternate side.
Happy Friday Eve everyone!
I suspect this entire scenario would be much better for the younger offspring than trying to get them to behave under stricter rules. But two days of seeing kid-themed places might be more relaxing for you, not to mention that it will make the younger ones tired.
It could be just the Friday, May 3, because the Other Parent might be able to take them on the Saturday. We’ll see. It’s closer than going to Raleigh.
Also! I signed up for a week of Envirothon teacher training in June. It’s only $85 for five days of class, lodging, and meals. Yes, that’s $85. James and Vlad will be at Boy Scout camp, and Frank and Kathleen can go to day camp at the gym. Pat may be going to NC State for engineering camp that week; we won’t know until the end of this month.
I feel sure that DP, Tom, and Sally can, among the three of them, get Frank and Kathleen back and forth each day, armed with lunches, bathing suits, and sunscreen. After all, I can do it all by myself!
It’s different when you delegate! Some days, the delagees are not on the ball!! Good luck with it all, anyway!
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