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 ...
Is that a marmalade? I see faint markings but what will it look like when its grown!
Yes, his stripes are light orange.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen one with such pale markings.
Good morning. Do you have another busy Saturday? And isn’t this the last day of Elen’s “Crucible?”
She’s been in my prayers! (Along with you!)
Yes, according to the schedule, this is the end of the Crucible today. It says “Emblem Ceremony” and “Warrior Breakfast.” I don’t know if that’s breakfast like I’m having, or afternoon breakfast like Harry and Meghan’s “wedding breakfast.”
We’re going on a hike this morning - have to leave by 8:00 - and then I’m not sure what else we’ll do. Maybe I’ll get the floors mopped. Tom and Sally both have work, so they won’t be underfoot.
Since I have about five letters to write this weekend, I’m going to start in a few minutes. Maybe I’ll write six. Some weekends are like that!
Not much else going on. I have to go to Walmart, though I really don’t want to, because I still have to get money from the ATM for laundry. When I went to Walgreen’s to get my prescription yesterday, I tried at their ATM, but I don’t think it likes AmEx because it will never give me money on that card. I’m pretty sure Walmart ATM was out of money when I tried there.
My daughter began texting me yesterday, and this time, she was asking for help. The previous long text session caused a lot of things to come to the surface, and she’s having a hard time. I did some research this morning, and found some herbal supplements that may help her, since she is a recovering addict. (Dang. Being a mom is so hard!)
Wow! That is gorgeous! Thanks, Covenantor!
How beautiful—thank you!
Adorable kitteh—thank you!
You’re welcome.
I may have to make a trip to CO in the very near future. I’ll know more by the end of the day. :o|
Unnnngh...
Unnngh. We had a nice hike.
I’m so glad!! It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a hike. Since before Igor, anyway! I miss alla that — especially in the High Desert.
We walked along the shore of Lake Norman, which is a very large reservoir. It was up and down, over tree roots, and so on, medium-strenuous. We went a little over five miles. There was heavy rain yesterday, but it was sunny today, temperature around 60 by noon. Excellent day for it.
YES! Elen is officially a US Marine! <3
*hugs* to Elen!
Can I stick my “U.S. Marine Family” sticker on the van now, or should I wait for graduation? I don’t think she’s going to do anything unutterably idiotic in the next two weeks ...
Put that sticker on now, Mom! Congratulations! Semper Fi
Congrats to Elen!
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