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 ...
Then you’ve made your decision.
That is one darling kitteh!
He’ll probably accept food, if you’re offering.
I see the Morning Floof is very floofy, so all is well in Floofville! What a cute little pink nose!!
Good morning all. I’ll be reporting from McD’s until further notice! I checked the mail progress of the router, and yesterday, it was in Provo, which is four hours from here, and maybe it will show up before Thursday. I hope.
The Village Elders are funny but they’re horrendously loud!
I’ll head for home in a few minutes. I have some movies to watch and some crocheting that needs to be done!
In case I don’t make it online tomorrow, Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms, the would be Moms and the late Moms!!! Without whom, none of us would be here!!
‘Face
:o])
Thank you’s!
Early Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms and Happy Mother’s Day Face
Howya! A happy day your Mrs., too!
And a happy Mother’s Day to Zon and all the other mothers in your line of sight! Don’t you have snow?
Happy Mom’s Day! I made it!!
The Morning Floof Mom is a busy lady, and that’s for sure! But wait! I looks like two moms, basking in the glow of their combined litter!!
So is Der Prinz taking you out for a Mother’s Day meal?
Yes, there are two moms in that pile of kittens. We don’t have plans to go out, but I think he’ll cook supper. Maybe I’ll ask for an early bedtime, because tomorrow is Monday.
It was clear out when I left home, and the weather beeber on my phone says it will be 72 degrees today, so maybe when I go home I can open the back door.
It would be nice for DP to cook for you and even nicer to go to bed early and curl up with a cat. I put the quilt back on the bed yesterday, but I don’t think I’ll be taking it off soon. Dang!!
I washed most of the kids’ blankets and stashed them in the attic until cold weather comes again.
In today’s episode of “Suburban Wild Kingdom,” the carnivorous predator would really like to lurk in the gardens and creep up on bird or rodent prey ... but it rained several inches in the last 24 hours, and he doesn’t like getting his feet wet.
Happy Mother’s Day TC !!! May your day have been abundant joy !!! I’ll pass along your greeting to Mrs.
Thank you. No disasters have occurred here, which is nice.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.