Difference between revisions of "Insect Allies Project"
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=== Selective Gene Therapy === | === Selective Gene Therapy === | ||
Another wild card in this project is the adaptation of the infected plants. There is no way to be certain the infected plants will act as they are supposed. | Another wild card in this project is the adaptation of the infected plants. There is no way to be certain the infected plants will act as they are supposed. | ||
| − | + | == Ethical Issues == | |
| + | ===The Positives=== | ||
| + | A number of ethical issues arise from the '''Insect Allies Project'''. There are multiple positive benefits, as well. If done right, this program will effectively mitigate the threats to our national crop system, the backbone of our food and agriculture. Both natural and engineered threats by state and non-state actors will be expunged, such as global warming, pesticides, and quarantine. If successful, America has avoided national security threats due to a lack of crops and has secured a major victory. | ||
| + | ===The Negatives=== | ||
Revision as of 19:04, 13 March 2020
The Insect Allies Project is DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) program seeking countermeasures against threats to the U.S. crop system and food supply. This program was launched by the Department of Defense in 2016. The main goal of this project is to mitigate the threat of flooding, drought, and pathogens to U.S. crops. To accomplish this goal, DARPA is using an insect delivery system to modify the genes of plants. DARPA is using a tripartite approach consisting of viral manipulation, selective gene therapy, and insect vector optimization. DARPA's hope is that this will allow a positive alternative to negative crop control, such as pesticides and slash-and-burn techniques. The overall hope of the program is to crush future threats to U.S. national security that arise when the crop structure is damaged.
Contents
Tripartire System
In order for this idea to be successful, all three parts of the project must be successfully addressed.
Viral Manipulation
The first part of the project involves genetically engineering viruses to improve crop growth. This involves an immense amount of testing and scientific effort.
Insect Vector Optimization
The delivery system of these new engineered viruses is solely dependent on insects. Scientists control the viruses they are engineering, but they do not control the courier insects. There is a high risk that the insect delivery system will not work as intended.
Selective Gene Therapy
Another wild card in this project is the adaptation of the infected plants. There is no way to be certain the infected plants will act as they are supposed.
Ethical Issues
The Positives
A number of ethical issues arise from the Insect Allies Project. There are multiple positive benefits, as well. If done right, this program will effectively mitigate the threats to our national crop system, the backbone of our food and agriculture. Both natural and engineered threats by state and non-state actors will be expunged, such as global warming, pesticides, and quarantine. If successful, America has avoided national security threats due to a lack of crops and has secured a major victory.
