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 ...
Sounds too much like “insect allies” could easily become “insect enemies”.
It is impossible to contain biologics.
The Book of Revelation definately comes to mind.
So. Did we decide? Beg? Borrow? Steal? This is such a fine specimen for an Undead Thread!
I would be honored!
Thank you, Ben! I will inform the Undeaders that it’s official, and we can move as soon as Darks can get the moving truck ready to go!
You’re awesome! You keep finding these things, and we’ll keep you in business! :o])
‘Face
Good morning. Thanks for all the bugs!
UT version of “so long and thanks for all the fish”?
Is there a hyperspace Thruway being built nearby?
;-)
I like that idea.
I'm not sure but a vehicle of some sort just blasted past blaring out something almost but not quite totally unlike music that sounded very similar to Vogon poetry..
I’ll move us when I can get the chance tomorrow.
Hopefully, no Vogons.
(Cue “Remember, No Russian” scene from that one Call of Duty game.)
I have nothing to say about the Vogons.
bttt
Darks, no response from anyone, so I’m wondering if ya’ll don’t want to move yet. It’s sitting, waiting, with a low post count which should give use a lotta usage! What say ye?
(BenLurkin has already given his honorable permission!
Haven’t moved it yet.
Been a tad busy.
I thought so, so I’ll just keep bumping it up for when things slow down for you!
Just put some of our keywords up there for reference.
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