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’s OK. The purveyor of Morning Kittehs, is supposed to be back later today, so you shouldn’t worry about trying to provide one, though your efforts have been massively appreciated!
Remember to watch out for the other guy while you journey to bob’s territory and back. He’s in that area...somewhere!
Also have a safe weekend! :o]
W00t!!
Good job!
I have a friend who works in Jersey City. He posts views from his building of that city on the east side of the Hudson. Maybe if you look out your window and he looks out his you can wave at each other.. ;-)
It's a drivable distance. I was considering whether I should offer to attend, but I didn't know whether it should be as a student or as a teacher.
I enjoy being at the front of the class, but never sitting in the first row.
LOL!
It will be refresher training for a group I taught Agile methods to about 2 years ago.
Oh well. I wouldn’t know Agile from frAgile.
Carry on. (But don’t get caught!)
Tomorrow, there will be Kitteh.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Rev. 9:3
Friday Morning Floof looks all Friday-ish and elegant.
Good morning. I hope your trip was without any unplanned events. For what its worth, you were missed!
Yesterday, I swapped out the winter clothes for summer and realized I’m in dire need of short pants. I have no idea how that happened.
But that’s basically the only thing that got done. I also realized I need to set up the fan in the bedroom, so at least I feel a breeze when I sleep. There is just not enough room in this place to do much of anything. I weeded out a lot of clothes when I moved in, so when I swapped out the clothes yesterday, there wasn’t much to donate.
The hardest part now will be trying to sort out the yarns and donate the stuff I’ll never use and finish the projects that I left undone, way back in August two years ago, when I bloodied my nose and scraped up my arm.
Good morning! The kitten lives in Sweden, where it’s very light this time of year.
The trip was very nice. DP and some “young adults” are leaving on another trip this afternoon, and Patrick is leaving on a different trip, and my mother is here, so things are moving briskly.
My first thing after breakfast is to get the Avalon inspected. If that other driver didn’t get it adequately cleaned up inside, I’ll charge her a fee.
Welcome back and thank you for Fuzzy Friday Kitteh!
Hi, Old Tax Lady! Enjoy your visit with all the Tax Chicklets!
I was glad I was able to get so many things done to the BB SUV, but one thing I didn’t do was get it washed and detailed. It is really filthy, what with the rain and snow and dusty winds, and pollen “worms” from off the trees. Which are now in full leaf, I might add! So that will happen on payday.
Which I hope is soon.
You’re welcome. I’m somewhat glad to be back.
I got the inspection, oil change, and new windshield wiper blades. Then I gathered up all the rubbish from the usual occupant of the car into a box and a bag, and I put the box and the bag in the trunk. Then I told her sister to pass along the news that if it isn’t all squared away by the next time I have to use the car, I’ll nationalize anything of value to me and throw everything else away.
I like the way you think!
The BB SUV needs new wiper blades and a new air filter, but I'll see how much I have left to play with after the bills are paid.
My friend Sharon has a son who owns quite a few Jiffy Lubes, including the one here, and she is going to talk to him about tires for the truck, and what kind of discount I can get. I won't hold my breath.
This means you got the defroster fixed?
Not yet...but I did get a new battery for it and that was an experience! It’s up-thread a few days...
And I got it serviced, and a new radiator cap. It still needs a new air filter, and wiper blades, and of course, the defroster and the tires, but those will come in time. I’ve learned to be very patient with the time it takes to get things fixed on the BB SUV. :o]
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