The Pentagon Wants to Make an Army of Virus-Spreading Insects. Scientists Are Concerned.

.livescience.com ^ | October 5, 2018 12:57pm ET | Brandon Specktor

[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."

[ArGee]

A Friday thought.

[ArGee]

For my friends in Texas.

[Silentgypsy]

There’s something about snowy-white fur....

[Silentgypsy]

G’dafternoon, and have a great weekend!

[ArGee]

Long weekend for me as we get Veterans Day (observed) off.

You have a great weekend, too.

[Tax-chick]

Happy weekend! I took Pat to school and sorted out our registration issue. Now I’ll go to bed with a cat for a while.

[NicknamedBob]

"Now I’ll go to bed with a cat for a while."

I think I will find it acceptable if my lifestyle should become as exciting as yours.

[Tax-chick]

“Dare to be dull” is my motto.

I went to bed with Jake. Shannon had the small-dog bed on top of the craft bin by the window. I had to wash their purple plush blanket with dinglebobs again because it rained in the window last night again.

[Tax-chick]

Pat’s “schedule builder” now includes twelve class sections from seven different courses. Based on what still has openings on Monday, when he’s allowed to register, he’ll end up with four classes.

[NicknamedBob]

"Based on what still has openings on Monday, when he’s allowed to register, he’ll end up with four classes."

Sounds ambitious. I recommend perseverance.

[NoCmpromiz]

If you have a cat you know about this.. ;-)

Simon's Cat

[Silentgypsy]

Lol!

[Tax-chick]

I recommend perseverance.

So do I! He has two college classes this semester, and it looks like he has a B in each right now. I'll be looking at the details over the weekend, because he has to have all assignments done before we leave for Parris Island.

[Tax-chick]

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you for beauteous morning kitteh!

[Tax-chick]

You’re welcome.

Just back from doing landscaping at our pastor’s house for five hours. Now we have a little while to eat and wash before the next thing.

[NicknamedBob]

"Just back from doing landscaping at our pastor’s house for five hours."

Does your parish need a community poet?

[Tax-chick]

I’m sure we could find a place for one. He could recite sagas while we plant shrubbery.

[Tax-chick]

Some of the shrubs we dug out had been there since the house was built in the 1970s. Getting the stumps cleared was a big job.

[NicknamedBob]

"Getting the stumps cleared was a big job."

I am familiar with that problem.