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 ...
No mishaps, and the Youth were tolerable. I fell asleep about midnight, but some people were still up at 3:00 a.m. when I got up to use the bathroom.
Thank you for the contented kittehs!
You’re welcome.
The Morning Floof is spying on the world!!
Good morning. I slept in. The laundry is sorted. I will go wash clothes then make the bed.
Lots of text messages from the nieces and nephews last night, but I tried not to respond. I suspect they will be here about noon or so tomorrow. The mail is in vacation hold as of tomorrow until next Monday, and I hope I sleep well again tonight.
Today is Kara’s birthday. I keep thinking she can never age from that sweet little girl of five that I met for the first time. My brems. They fool me.
Kitteh will pounce you! Happy birthday to Kara!
I was thinking of spending an extra few minutes in bed, but then I heard Tom the Son come in, and then Jake got up ...
I hate when that happens!!
Done with the laundry, and now it's time to make the bed and have the steroid. Which I'm beginning not to like!
Face, I’m sorry about the loss of your older brother. Prayers for your comfort.
On Sunday the young man who leads worship at the Church in the homeless shelter said he’d lost two friends this week.
Life is hard, but we know something better comes after. I hope that is a comfort to both of you.
Happy Monday, all.
As it is spring, I have again taken up trying to run 3 days a week so I will live longer.
I’m still wondering if it’s worth the trade-off.
Happy Monday to all! The trip to school got underway, a little late.
Thanks, ArGee. That’s very kind. And yes, something much better comes after, but I think he was more afraid of the transition, as a lot of people are.
I’m sorry that the young man in the shelter lost his friends. Life takes its toll on all of us.
It is Monday.
I have a eulogy to write for the services... What can I say that would represent the four of us that are left? My muse seems to have taken a Monday Walkabout!
Just to be clear, the young man who lost his friends isn’t homeless. He comes in to lead worship.
We’ve had some musicians who are homeless and really good. Some help out leading worship. But they’re not very reliable. Sometimes they get jobs (yay) and others they just don’t make it.
That was clear, but I probably wasn’t. My brain seems to be preoccupied, for some reason.
Some people in shelters seem to have dropped out of society for a reason; others have no reason other than the convenience of having no responsibilities. I’m always sad when even one of them has died.
The young man who leads worship is probably saddened by those who don’t make it through life. I think his is probably a thankless job.
UT has been cleared.
Was it something I said?
A friend of mine has just released the latest editions to Humanity.
Twins Emily and Jack, born at 23 weeks.
They have been taken to Bristol ICU for the next few months ,but appear to be fullly operational.
Precious!
Prayers up for Emily and Jack until you tell us to stop.
Thank you, SG. Hope springs eternal. :)
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