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 have not tried eating it or using it as an unguent.
Seriesly..
Whoa! Quadruple cuteness—thank you.
Sounds like a wise policy.
I make some of the dumb life choices, but not all of them!
There are ominous rumblings from the nominal southwest and the sky is darkenish. And the notalwaysAccu(rate)Weather folk’s radar display sez we have Stuff headed our way.
It sez your Brother is already getting wet.. ;-)
I’m sure he’ll prefer it to snow. We got buckets of rain yesterday, but only sprinkles today. I planted some ornamental plants in the front flowerbed today. Hopefully they’ll flourish!
Bill the Son is over to do his tax return. No percentage in being too hasty on these things.
And now for a gardening tip.. ;-)
Cats are not ideal for container gardening.
THAT is a very cool article! Thanks, NoC!!
I left too early yesterday to indulge in the Interwebs, so I’m now trying to catch up. I should have at least looked because the Morning Floof kittehs would have made my day much better!
:o]
The Morning Floof looks very much like a Birman, which is what the Late, Great PV was.
I’m home. I should be washing clothes, but I woke up knowing the CFIDS/ME was just lurking in the shadows and that it pounced during the night. No way can I do the laundry today. Maybe tomorrow. Or maybe not.
As the time passes, I feel less and less inclined to be a good auntie to several of my late brother’s offspring. I love them, but they have successfully estranged themselves from me. Which I feel is OK.
The Muppet Birds are not talking to me this morning. Poor things. They will be better tomorrow.
I was happy to see my apartment yesterday afternoon, but I just put the dirty clothes in the laundry, took my evening pills and went to bed.
My relaxation was interrupted several times by text messages, one of which was from my favorite daughter who has pneumonia. She was perfectly content to suffer and be stupid than to go to quick care and find out for sure why she felt so terrible, which I suggested she do while I was in Phoenix. I suspect she came within a gnat’s eyebrow of having her own funeral being planned.
She is now on bed rest for the next week. Whether she stays there is yet to be seen.
I came home with two things from my late brother’s art folio, and quite a few things from my dad’s art folio that I recognized. One of my late brother’s pieces of artwork will be given to my Real Brother because the offspring didn’t want to part with the item he wanted.
I’ve decided that funerals are excuses for people to be unruly and rude, selfish and vindictive, and just plain evil to other survivors.
</rant
Good morning. I’m sorry you’re not well today. I hope you feel much better tomorrow, and that the Muppet Birds quickly forgive you and start singing cheerful songs.
Bill the Son came over yesterday and did his tax returns, a day earlier than last year. He says he’ll come to church next Sunday and let the Spanish ladies shower him with compliments. Now I’ll see if I can persuade Anoreth.
Thank you. The unwell is just CFIDS/ME. I’m glad it did what it usually does: lurk in the background when I travel because I’m focused on other things. It’s a common pattern, and also inevitable, so I deal with it. Sometimes, not gracefully, but still...
The “girls” were talking about tax refunds at one point on the way home, and I was thinking how nice it would be to get tax refunds and buy something needed like a new defroster, a stereo that works, and new tires all around. But instead, I’m thinking of a modified lay-away. Make monthly payments until I have enough to pay for what I need.
I will have to get an oil change soon, and have them check all the fluids because it’s time.
I’m certain that your “dumb” life choices are few and far between, and that, if there actually are any, that they were made in the spirit of altruism.
It’s nice of you to say so!
Thank you for beautiful kitteh!
Merely being honest.
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