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 ...
Morning Floof needs to wash his face!
Good morning. Laundry is washed and awaiting being hung up to dry. Just as I was leaving the laundry room I felt some rain on my hands and by the time I got to my door, the rain was definitely falling. Now, because of the pain factor, I’ll wait a few minutes before I hang them to dry.
When my neighbor wakes up, or at a suitable time of daylight, I’ll vacuum. I’m still trying to figure out how the rug gets so dirty with only one person living here and seldom having company.
Good morning, again. I went back to sleep, just because I could.
I have to go to Walgreen’s and get the rest of my morphine. I hate going. I just want to stay home and do nothing.
Epic Fail Yard Workers are here and I want to grab one and have him cut back the mulberry tree that has a branch overhanging the sidewalk.
That’s a good idea. Just say please!
We went to the Memorial Day observance in Lake Park. It’s hot, but there was a pleasant breeze. A great blue heron kept flying over; he was annoyed by all the people around his pond, I’m sure.
Now DP has gone off shopping, but I don’t feel like going out, after three days in the broiling sun. After I drink some more water, I’ll get to work on Frank’s birthday cake.
Darling little critter thinking, “Oh, noes”!
I asked him please, but I just looked and its still there, so I’ll have to ask Chuck if he has a pruning hook. And the yard crew is gone, now.
Walgreen’s pharmacy was closed. Drat! So I came home and have been crocheting and watching Midsomer Murders and Father Brown. I have one more episode to watch and then I’ll watch something else.
I noticed something that I thought was funny. The spired tower in Midsomer is also in Father Brown! I’ll have to check and see if its in Grantchester, as well. :o]
I did manage to get the living room cleaned and vacuumed in case the odd guest comes, but the only ones I know are with their families. If I could, I’d go have a burger or a hot dog somewhere. But I’ll just watch another Father Brown and call this a day.
Happy Birthday to Frank!
Did they have the bonfire?
Kitty looks like (s)he has been hanging out with Dirt at Nevada Northern RR.. ;-)
Yes, they did. Boys said they had fun.
You can’t stick your nose into everything without getting caught.
We’re helping ourselves to your birthday cake, and washing it down with beer, over at the other place, Reverend.
Just how busy can one man be?
Floofy! Squeeful Morning Floof!
Good morning. Even though I slept in, I’ve still gotten several things done that I hadn’t intended to do. The ideas just came to me and I ran with them.
So now, I’m going to head for Walmart and get some food things. Then I’ll come back and finish my latest shawl. And watch another Horatio. And Foyle’s war. And maybe a Grantchester. ;o]
I’m going to Weight Watchers this morning, and eventually I’ll have to go to Walmart, and I just thought of something else but I don’t remember what it was.
It will come back to you. I know, because I do it all the time!
I knitted a sweater many years ago, planning to give it to my friend in Payson, but she said she was hard to please, so I kept it, half-assembled. I ran across it a few days ago and this morning, I saw it and checked it out. I only need to put the sleeves and the collar on. The sleeves are already sewn together, so the rest is easy. I will have to buy buttons, though. BIG buttons.
So as soon as I finish the current shawl, I’ll put the sweater together so I can wear it. :o] Because they have two seasons here : Winter and the 4th of July.
The 4th of July isn’t that far off ;-).
Frank can go to the pool while I’m at Weight Watchers, on account of being 10 now.
True, and I hope the sun shines warmly on that day. I think we’ve had a total of 14 days of sunshine since I moved here on December 7. *shudder*
It’s hard to believe that I not only have a blanket and quilt on my bed, but I had to dig out the thickest, largest throw I have to put on top. And the space heater has been set aside several times, but not put away. :o|
Thank you for the cute little honey!
G’orning, y’all!
The sun is shining here. It’s going to be in the mid-90s today. I went to Weight Watchers and then got crickets at Petsmart. Now I’m working on a list for Walmart.
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