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 ...
Super daft here. I’m making posters to advertise a Cub Scouts event next weekend. When they’re done, I’ll go to church and put them up, as well as a few other construction projects.
Maybe I’ll put shorts on, so I don’t get my skirt dirty.
I’d be paralyzed from the neck down after 12 miles of mountain hiking. How do you do it?
And sometimes we post to random strangers. You know, to keep then guessing what we're up to.. ;-)
Left, right, left, right ...
We await the results of the Euro election, now.
Will it be Nigel Farage in the Drawing room with the lead pipe?
This saga will all end with the Buggs Bunny tune playing in the background, you just know it...
I can hear it all now: Th..Th..That’s all folks!
I just read an email from the library. Four more of my requests are in, including Horatio Hornblower, season 1! Hold my calls and cancel all appointments but Gonzo’s for the next week!
What a thing to wake up to. Yipee!
Here it is, a week away from June and I not only had to put the quilt back on the bed but had to add two throws. (I only have one lightweight blanket.) And I also had to drag the space heater back out so I could be somewhat warm while I sit here. The locals tell me the weather will get up 110° in the summer, but I think they’re lying. I don’t think they have summer.
Did you get all the posters made and distributed?
Nothing like keeping busy.
Good morning. Yes, we got the posters done and put up. I made two, and PatJamesVlad made one each.
I went out to dinner with DP and Tom. Then we hiked about four miles, because Tom felt like a constitutional. He’s very tall.
I think today’s first hurdle is the Envirothon picnic at 11:00. Have to get the cake and the fruit salad out to thaw about 9:30.
Tiny little Morning Floof. Looks like it has milk on its chin. Such a squee!
My hands are so cold. I cut the tips off a pair of Dollar Tree gloves this winter and I need them now. :o|
I just realized, even though the weather is telling me that Fall is here, that you’re actually heading into summer and will have lots of Hilly Constitutionals to fill the days.
I just want to get out on a SUNNY day with a box of KFC and a fizzy cold drink and just enjoy the scenery. Maybe even take a camera with me so I can remember the trip.
But now, its time for a shower so I can warm up.
Last night’s trek was mostly flat, at least.
Done. Next is making the bed. And then I’ll finish the last episode of New Tricks and Foyle’s War, and I’ll make it a point to drop them off today and pick up the stack of new ones that are waiting for me.
I need to do more laundry, give Kathleen a bath, and figure out what’s after that.
Fantastic!
Thank you for smoky kitteh!
You’re welcome. I hope you have a great day!
Yes, isn’t it? I’m going to try and get the movies watched this morning, so that when I go to pick up what’s left of the morphine prescription I can stop by the library on the way home, drop of the DVDs that I have and pick up the new ones.
It will be like having a candy store in my living room!
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