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 ...
G’orning, y’all!
Whoa! Concur.
Perhaps your old boss was aware of things that didn’t bode well for the future.
I’ll keep you in my prayers. {{{Nully}}}
Beaker’s nose job wasn’t as pretty as the last one, but it was also more costly than I was told. I had transferred what I thought was enough and just before I left, I thought I had better transfer another $5. It slipped my mind until I got ready to leave and the laptop was already shut down. Too late. I thought I had plenty of time but had to make a detour because of construction. The new animal clinic is going up across the street.
Anyway, had I transferred that $5, I would have had enough. So I had to use the other account. GAH!
I went ahead and made appointments for her every other month until November and I hope she gets used to being handled. The end of this month is Gonzo’s turn. He just gets his nails clipped and has an exam. Not going to worry too much about him, as he seems to be healthy but nervous. I should have named him Gladys Kravitz.
I hope your conversation with the chemical engineer is beneficial for Tom. :o]
Not known, but it’s sitting almost next to my good luck kitteh!! The one that is still working hard to bring me in some luck! :o]
Poor Beaker. It’s amazing how much free pets cost!
This is the first time I’ve had rescue pets that have cost me more than the initial check-up and/or spaying/neutering, and the usual food things.
Had I known I may have thought twice, but I suspect I would have taken them anyway because of the abuse factor. I do not like people who abuse animals and/or other people.
And these two have been abused for the first five years of their little lives. They still show signs of it. I have no idea how long it will take them to become “tame.” Probably never, as with the inbreeding, they may have shorter life spans.
Poor birdies.
Yes, Beaker...my son had a cat named Beaker because that’s who it sounded like!!
Hopefully, they will heal. I think they just need to know they have everything they need in enough quantities so they don’t wolf down their food things.
They’ll be OK, even if they are “expensive.”
And with that, I’m out of here for the night!
Ta!
Hope you had a good night. I’m trying to get the boys to agree to some kind of meal other than pizza.
At least your little birdies weren't fricaseed.
No one has told me officially that my contract has been terminated, yet.
Oh, dear. How disagreeable!
Pizza is a good meal, but not every meal. I like it for a change, but the frequency I actually get one is about once a year or less. And I like cold pizza the day after. Like I said: once a year or less. :o]
Oh, golly. Fuss and bother. What a thing to have to deal with. I hope you have somewhere else in mind to use your talents. That doesn’t go well with cereal for brekkity.
What a pretty Morning Marmalade Floof!!
Trying to stay awake but not quite mak…. *snore*
Good morning. I think Heute ist Mittwoch.
I will go to Walmart in a while. I was able to get quite a few things done yesterday, but I will try and get more done today. I don’t know when the New Nephew and his entourage plan on showing up at my door, but I want to be ready.
Good morning. The usual alarums and excursions are occurring around here. I estimate that I have said, “You know you’re not allowed to _____!” at least 30 times already.
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