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 ...
It isn’t. Very early Dx, very treatable.
At least you have clean clothes. I’ve instructed Pat on doing the wash while I’m gone, but I need to write down the settings.
We’re off to Asheville until Thursday afternoon. No kittehs until Friday morning, I’m afraid.
Have fun, T-C.
Note to self, since coyotes have been spotted in NYC, learn the difference between a dog and a coyote pup.
He’s so invisible that he can taste the inside of his own head.
That’s like, deep, man.
Flipside, reduce the bug eyes and give him a shave and he looks like Brie Larson
Your wish is my command, master.
No, you’re not off. I distinctly recall that, “ I can’t help how you all reflaprifptc. There’s absoflourtpfly nothing wrong with me.” There’s something wrong with me for remembering that. Anyway, have a happy Tuesday.
He does indeed look like the sort of person who would pay someone to make him invisible, doesn’t he?
Shades of my childhood....
Now I am not a gamer, Solitaire, Minesweeper and MaJong are my speed, but since the price was right I figured I'd at least download it and see what the current generation of games is like. And maybe relieve the frustration of dealing with mind-numbed liberals by offing some of whatever bad guys are in the game.
I was warned by the resident gamerperson that UbiSoft is 'kind of wonky'. And was reminded that it is a BIG download.
I see what he meant. The download is stuck at about 60% complete and will not progress. But it does tell me that it had downloaded enough that the game is playable.
I'm wondering if I have to attempt to play the game (and probably get killed off by whatever type of baddies are in it) to get it to complete the download..
OR just ditch the whole thing and loose all that money it cost me.. ;-)
I guess I’m too late to wish you “safe journey,” huh? ;o]
My new lamp is here and it’s a thing of beauty! “Black chrome.” <3 I heart it!
Yeah, that wizard’s a total crock.
Congrats on the lamp. Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day in Asheville.
Or call a wizard?
Good morning.
Good morning. I have no idea what today will be like since my phone is still wonky. As soon as I copy the numbers, I’ll reset the phone to factory settings. It’s either that or buy a new one (this one is four years old) and forego the servicing of the BB SUV.
Well, good morning, ArGee Morning Floof!
What a pleasant surprise! Thanks, ArGee! <3
Y/W.
I wish I felt like that kitteh appears to feel.
But, I’z here, so off we go.
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