Saturday, October 14, 2023

Unlocking the secrets of cold tolerance: A dive into tomato plants' molecular responses to chilling stress

Unlocking the secrets of cold tolerance: a deep dive into tomato plants' molecular responses to chilling stress — Transcriptional response to chilling stress is largely driven by disruption of rhythmic gene

Cold sensitivity poses a significant challenge for certain essential crops. While there's an indication that these plants may possess cold acclimation capabilities, the molecular dynamics, particularly involving the CRT binding factor (CBF) family, are not fully explored.

One primary concern has been the disparity in cold tolerance between temperate plants and tropical species such as the tomato. Additionally, the accumulation of small metabolites, termed cryoprotectants, plays a crucial role in enabling plants to resist damage from low temperatures.

Adding to the complexity is the plant's circadian clock, which potentially intertwines with the cold response mechanism. As the world faces unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, understanding these intricate processes becomes paramount to safeguarding crop health.

In July 2023, Horticulture Research published a research paper entitled by "Chilling stress drives organ-specific transcriptional cascades and dampens diurnal oscillation in tomato."

First, researchers exposed 18-day-old tomato seedlings to 4°C cold stress at ZT2.5 (ZT = time of onset of light) and conducted phenotype analysis at 30 minutes, 90 minutes, and three hours. The stem transcriptome was sampled at 30 minutes and three hours after treatment, while the root was only sampled at three hours.

The results indicate that when tomato seedlings are exposed to low temperatures, there is extensive transcriptional reprogramming in both buds and roots. Further research found that the expression of CCA1 gene was more affected by temperature than by light incidence. The mRNA levels of genes that catalyze the biosynthesis of trehalose, raffinose, and polyamines in cold-treated plants increased by an average of 10 times, indicating an increase in the accumulation of these cryoprotectants in response to cold stress.

To identify functional enrichment among the cold-responsive differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed.

Analysis showed that many genes involved in photosynthesis, hormone signaling, etc. are induced by cold stress. Under cold stress, the most significantly affected process/pathway in tomato plant branches is the photosynthesis pathway. In the cold-treated samples, the operational efficiency of photosynthesis (PSII) began to increase, but as the cold treatment continued, despite the continuous upregulation of photosynthetic related genes, PSII still decreased.

The significant upregulation of most photosystem genes failed to compensate for the net loss of photosynthetic efficiency caused by low temperature stress. The observed amplitude loss of core clock genes during cold stress likely disrupts their rhythmic regulation. Additionally, using a CBF3 knock-out mutant, the study revealed that CBF3 is not essential for the induction of certain cryoprotectant biosynthesis genes under cold stress in tomato.

In summary, this study offers a comprehensive view of the complex transcriptional landscape of tomato seedlings under cold stress, highlighting both unique characteristics of tomato and shared mechanisms across plant species. The intertwining of cold response and circadian regulation underscores the multifaceted nature of plant responses to environmental stressors.

More information: Tina Agarwal et al, Chilling stress drives organ-specific transcriptional cascades and dampens diurnal oscillation in tomato, Horticulture Research (2023). DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad137

Journal information: Horticulture Research

Provided by NanJing Agricultural University Study finds linkage between DNA methylome and RNA transcriptome in Fe deficiency in tomato roots

Seismic survey not expected to impact oyster yield in Australian waters

by Australian Institute of Marine Science

Seismic survey not expected to impact NW oyster yield — Researchers analyze silverlip pearl oysters. Credit: Nick Thake

New research suggests that exposure to a single seismic survey is unlikely to increase mortality or affect pearl production in adults of an oyster species farmed in Australian waters.

In a study led by Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) researchers, and published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, about 11,000 silverlip pearl oysters (Pintada maxima) were exposed during a dedicated four-day seismic source survey.

They were then monitored over a two-year period with results indicating the surveys were unlikely to have had an effect on the quality or quantity of pearls produced.

Dr. Miles Parsons, an AIMS acoustic scientist and lead author on the study, said the research reduced previous uncertainty for this species.

"It has given us valuable real-world results," he said.

"It is important to recognize that this was the first time anyone has used a dedicated seismic vessel and a commercial-sized airgun array to look at the effects of seismic energy on this species in an area where pearl oysters are commercially farmed.

"Previous studies into the effects of seismic energy on mollusks—the family of marine invertebrates to which oysters belong—had found damage to cells, adverse changes in behavior and impairment of immune systems, and in some cases, mortality, raising concerns. But some of these studies involved small-scale, laboratory, and single-airgun trials or opportunistic sampling designs.

"The robust design and delivery of our experiment means our findings reduce uncertainty and allow managers, marine industries and policy makers to make more informed decisions about the sustainable use of seismic surveys in relation to this species."

The silverlip pearl oyster is a dinner plate–sized species found in the Indo-Pacific region and is a valuable species for jewelry. Western Australia's pearling industry, estimated to be worth $67 million in 2014, grows the oysters commercially in waters off the Pilbara and the Kimberley—an area that overlaps with offshore oil and gas exploration and development.

A seismic vessel and a commercial-sized airgun array were used for the research at various distances from groupings of oysters in Roebuck Bay, south of Broome in Western Australia.

In seismic surveys, an airgun array produces loud, repetitive underwater sounds that penetrate the sea floor. The rebounding sound creates detailed pictures of the rock layers below the seabed, allowing industry to locate oil and gas deposits.

Oysters from one of the four seismic survey days exhibited higher levels of mortality and lower pearl production than other days, but oysters from many other test groups that received similar or higher levels of exposure did not display the same response. Dr. Parsons said it was likely an unknown stressor had driven this response, rather than the seismic survey, but scientists could not rule out that an unknown factor might have worked in synergy with seismic exposure to affect these oysters.

The research was part of a wider experiment conducted in 2018 which also looked at responses to seismic surveys of commercially valuable demersal fish species in the north west Australian environment.

The research was a collaboration between AIMS, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, University of Tasmania and collaborators from the Australian pearling industry and was part of the North West Shoals to Shore Research Program.

More information: Miles J.G. Parsons et al, A large-scale experiment finds no consistent evidence of change in mortality or commercial productivity in silverlip pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) exposed to a seismic source survey, Marine Pollution Bulletin (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115480

Journal information: Marine Pollution Bulletin

Provided by Australian Institute of Marine ScienceSeismic surveys have no significant impact on commercially valuable fish in NW Australia

Prezygotic isolation between sympatric dioecious figs may not yet be established

by Li Yuan, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Cospeciation is generally considered a key process driving the diversity of figs and their pollinating wasps. Ficus squamosa and Ficus heterostyla are two closely related dioecious figs. This pair represents a good system for gaining insights into cospeciation dynamics and processes, as well as the potential biological consequences of heterospecific visitation.

A research team from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have investigated both pre- and post-zygotic isolation in a sympatric fig pair consisting of F. heterostyla and F. squamosa, to reveal the final stages of speciation between the two closely related specimens.

The study was published in Evolution Letters on Oct. 7.

The researchers analyzed volatile profiles at the receptive phase, which was crucial for attracting pollinators. They identified volatile compounds for the two fig species and found that most compounds were shared, despite significant interspecific dissimilarity. The lengths of the wasp ovipositors were well within the range required for access to heterospecific ovules.

The team then produced hybrid seeds through manipulative experiments and observed that wasps of F. heterostyla reproduced in F. squamosa figs, while wasps of F. squamosa did not reproduce in F. heterostyla figs. Although the species are morphologically distinguishable and are generally pollinated by distinct wasp species, reproductive isolation is not fully realized.

The researchers recorded weak geographic barriers, minimal volatile dissimilarity, compatible morphology, complementary reproductive phenologies and the production of hybrid seeds and wasp offspring in heterospecific hosts.

"Together with geographic barriers and complementary reproductive phenologies, our findings suggest that prezygotic isolation between F. heterostyla and F. squamosa may not yet be established," said Huang Jianfeng, first author of the study.

The researchers suggest that F. heterostyla and F. squamosa represented an example of incomplete wasp specialization and potentially incomplete reproductive isolation.

More information: Jian-Feng Huang et al, Pollinator sharing and hybridization in a pair of dioecious figs sheds light on the pathways to speciation, Evolution Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad045

Journal information: Evolution Letters

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences Two closely related fig species show signatures of hybridization at climatic margins

New biobased recyclable polyesters exhibit excellent tensile properties beyond polyethylene and polypropylene

by Japan Science and Technology Agency

The research group of Professor Kotohiro Nomura, Tokyo Metropolitan University, in cooperation with the research group of Director Hiroshi Hirano, Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, has developed biobased polyesters from inedible plant resources, which can be easily chemical recyclable and exhibit promising mechanical properties in films than commodity plastics.

The work has been published in ACS Macro Letters.

The development of high-performance, sustainable, recyclable plastics is important for the creation of a circular economy. Biobased polyesters made from plant resources are expected to become a promising alternative to commodity polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene produced from petroleum. However, there have been few examples of the development of high-performance materials that exceed required mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break.

Synthesis methods for high molecular weight (long chain) polymers had been a pending issue in conventional polycondensation methods. To solve this issue, the research group has developed an olefin metathesis polymerization method using a high-performance molybdenum catalyst, focusing on polyesters derived from inedible plant resources.

In general, there is an antinomic relationship between tensile strength and elongation at break in polymer film, as well as an increase in the molecular weight and the elongation at break. However, the present polymer film demonstrates that the tensile properties (strength and elongation at break) of the polymer film increased with the molecular weight, exhibiting superior properties beyond conventional plastics.

This method is the first success in developing the biobased polyester materials that can be decomposed/recycled. The film properties can be further improved by combining the material with naturally derived fibers such as cellulose nanofibers.

Basic design, structure of present biobased polyesters Basic structure, framework in the present biobased polyesters derived from plant oil and glucose (in this study). The present polymers can be easily decomposed to the monomer units by chemical recycle simply using treating with alcohols (called catalytic transesterification). Credit: JST

Promising mechanical properties in the present biobased polyesters byond polyethylene Effect of molecular weight toward tensile properties in the present biobased polyesters, HP1. The plots of PE-18,18 (polyester-18,18, reported biobased), and commercially available polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) are placed for comparison. In general, polymer films exhibiting higher tensile strength (with increase of molecular weight) tends to decrease the elongation at break. The present high molecular weight biobased polyester (HP1), achieved in this study, shows promising tensile properties (tensile strength, elongation at break) beyond commodity plastics. The success was enabled by synthesis of high molecular weight polymers by high performance molecular catalyst. Credit: JST

Olefin metathesis polymerization method

"Olefin" is a general term for hydrocarbons with one carbon–carbon double bond. The word "metathesis" means "substitution." Therefore, the recombination reaction of substituents on the double bond of an olefin is called the olefin metathesis reaction. For example, there is a reaction where a carbon–carbon double bond in an olefin is replaced with a catalytic metal–carbon double bond (catalytically active species) through the reaction using a catalytic metal such as ruthenium or molybdenum.

The polymer synthesis method using such a reaction is called the olefin metathesis polymerization method. The present method developed by the researchers is a polycondensation synthesizing polymer through producing ethylene as by-product (acyclic diene metathesis polymerization).

More information: Mika Kojima et al, Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Biobased Aliphatic Polyesters Exhibiting Tensile Properties Beyond Polyethylene, ACS Macro Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00481

Journal information: ACS Macro Letters

Provided by Japan Science and Technology AgencyIron catalyst could make important chemical reactions cheaper and more eco-friendly

Research reveals how smell can influence our perception of color

by University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool is part of a new study that reveals for the first time how particular scents can influence our perception of color.

In a paper, titled "Odors modulate color appearance," published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, an interdisciplinary research team of University of Liverpool psychologists and engineers undertook an experiment to determine if smell does indeed influence how we perceive color.

The experiment involved 24 participants aged 20 to 57 sitting in front of a screen in an isolation room with blacked out windows, and no unwanted sensory stimuli or odors.

Then an ultrasonic diffuser released one of six scents—caramel, cherry, coffee, lemon, and peppermint, plus odorless water as a control—into the room. The scents were chosen as they induced the most robust odor-color associations in the team's prior work.

The participants were then asked to modify a square filled with a grayish color on a screen using two adjustable sliders—one yellow to blue and another one red to green—until they reached a color they judged as being devoid of any hue, that is, a perfect neutral gray color.

The results revealed that participants chose a more red-brown color gray when they smelt coffee, while opting for a yellow-brown version of the gray when the odor of caramel was pumped into the room.

The lead author of the paper is Dr. Ryan Ward, a senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, who undertook the study when he was with the University of Liverpool's Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (EEE) and University of Liverpool's Digital Innovation Facility (DIF).

He said, "Here we show that the presence of different odors influences how humans perceive color. Our results showed that the perception of gray trended towards their anticipated correspondences for four out of five scents, namely lemon, caramel, cherry, and coffee."

The research is part of an unusual but exciting collaboration between Professor Alan Marshall, from the University's Department of EEE who heads up the Immersive Reality laboratory at the DIF, and Sophie Wuerger, Professor of Vision Science with the Department of Psychology.

They are working together to explore how olfactory information can be sent remotely and also how it influences our perception. Their longer-term research focus is the effective inclusion of olfactory information in Virtual Reality using their interdisciplinary expertise and the unique facilities in the Immersive Reality laboratory at the DIF.

Professor Wuerger said, "Research on the interactions between the sense of smell and vision is a fairly new area. The novelty of our experiment is that we used a robust tool to measure small perceived color changes and assess the perceived color in a more objective way which requires know-how of vision science. We believe we are the first team to do this."

Professor Alan Marshall said, "This is an exciting area of research which is important if we are to understand better how our senses influence our overall perception, which will also be a critical factor in designing the next generation of 'immersive reality' systems, such as the Metaverse, and has application not just in entertainment, but across a wide range of VR systems including the creative arts, training, education and health care."

More information: Ryan J. Ward et al, Odors modulate color appearance, Frontiers in Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1175703

Journal information: Frontiers in Psychology

Provided by University of Liverpool Our sense of smell alters the colors we see, show scientists

Climate researcher rejects being sacked for refusing to fly

A climate researcher hit back against his dismissal from a German think-tank after refusing to take a flight back from a fact-finding mission in Papua New Guinea.

Gianluca Grimalda was informed of his dismissal in mid-October by his employer, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), in a letter seen by AFP on Friday.

No reason for the termination was given in the letter.

A few days before, the 51-year-old social scientist had received an ultimatum from the institute, insisting he return to Germany by plane.

"I'm not going to catch a plane because for me it's unreasonable," Grimalda told AFP, who refused the demand to travel.

The carbon emissions from the return flight back would have been greater than those of an average person over an entire year, said Grimalda.

The Italian national spent the best part of the last six months investigating the social impacts of climate change on communities in Papua New Guinea.

Grimalda, who is a member of the climate activist group Scientist Rebellion, had traveled most of the way to the Pacific island state by land and sea.

Around two-thirds of the 22,000-kilometer (13,670-mile) journey from Germany was done by train, car and boat.

Grimalda intended to do the same for the return leg and was set to arrive back in Kiel on September 10.

But Grimalda's return was delayed when he ran into difficulties with former independence fighters in the region and a volcanic eruption forced part of his trip to be cancelled, according to the researcher.

The institute in Kiel was frustrated by the delay and asked Grimalda to return by October 2, according to another letter seen by AFP.

Grimalda said he suffers from medically diagnosed "climate anxiety" and risked succumbing to a panic attack if he boarded the flight back to Germany.

The researcher said he would contest his dismissal from the institute when he returns to Germany, citing mental health reasons.

Contacted by AFP, the IfW Kiel said it did not comment on internal personnel questions to "protect the private lives of employees".

Climate scientist 'could lose job' for refusing to fly

How clouds protect coral reefs, but will not be enough to save them from us

by Pedro C. González Espinosa and Simon Donner, The Conversation

coral bleaching — Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems for people and coastal communities. They provide food and livelihoods and protect coastlines from storms, contribute to local economies and preserve cultural heritage.

However, warming ocean temperatures as a result of human-made climate change present considerable risks to the reefs. The recent rise in coral bleaching all over the world is the most visible impact.

But what is coral bleaching? Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when the white skeleton of the corals becomes visible after the microalgae that live inside their translucent tissues are expelled.

Even though coral reefs can recover from bleaching events, the process, much like the regrowth of a forest following a windstorm or wildfire, requires a considerable amount of time. And, as our research has shown, an appreciation of the role of cloud cover.

Relief in the clouds

Although coral bleaching is generally linked only to ocean temperatures, the process itself is a product of the interaction between high temperatures and sunlight levels in a given area.

If the temperatures are high enough, the coral and microalgae become more light-sensitive. When combined with excessive sunlight, this sensitivity harms the microalgae which, in turn, results in the production of chemical compounds called reactive oxygen species. These compounds are harmful to many species and in the case of reefs cause the coral to expel its microalgae.

In the same way that clouds protect us from harmful exposure to UV rays, clouds also provide a protective barrier for the world's coral reefs. Field studies of coral bleaching events in French Polynesia and in the Republic of Kiribati found that periods of cloudiness may have reduced the bleaching severity and extent.

Climate change is projected to kill off most of the world's coral reefs, even in scenarios with only 1.5°C of global warming. Yet, to date, most analysis has only considered the effect of temperature. Could incorporating clouds change the forecast?

Considering cloudiness

In order to understand how cloudiness might influence the response of coral reefs to climate change, our recent study used a global historical database containing almost 38,000 coral bleaching reports to train an algorithm that estimates bleaching severity based on incoming light and temperature stress.

Our algorithm was then applied to four different future climate scenarios on the world's coral reefs to assess if and when bleaching conditions would become too frequent for reefs to recover. The results indicate that under a low emissions scenario, increased cloudiness would indeed have an effect on the coral bleaching conditions. This means that corals would have more time to recover from the impacts of rising temperatures and improve their resilience.

However, even under a low carbon emission scenario, this extra time will not be enough to prevent more than 70 percent of global reefs experiencing frequent bleaching conditions with not enough time in between to fully recover.

This highlights the severity of the coral bleaching crisis caused by thermal stress and the limitations of relying solely on cloudiness as a protective mechanism. Simply put, while clouds can offer some relief to corals, they cannot mitigate the long-term consequences of climate change when the sea surface temperature becomes too high.

Clear implications

Cloud cover may offer temporary relief to coral reefs by delaying the adverse environmental conditions responsible for coral bleaching. However, that seems to be partially true only in the lowest emission scenario which would be possible only if we dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Without doing that, dangerously frequent bleaching conditions are unavoidable and reefs will continue to be threatened even if we cut down emissions now. Moreover, we also need to get serious about habitat and biodiversity protection to increase resilience.

Only by doing this could coral reefs stand a chance at surviving the increasing pressures of climate change. Any other approach has its head in the clouds.

Provided by The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.Clouds could delay the impact of climate change on reefs, but not for long

AFRICA

Mauritius is the latest nation to decriminalize same-sex relations in a divided continent

by Frans Viljoen, The Conversation

Mauritius is the latest nation to decriminalise same-sex relations in a divided continent — Credit: shutterstock

The Mauritius Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a law that criminalizes consensual same-sex acts between adult men. The decision boosts the trend in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region towards decriminalization. Now, a slight majority—nine out of 16 member states—do not prohibit gay and lesbian sexual relations.

I have researched and taught human rights law in Africa, including the rights of sexual minorities, for over three decades, and closely follow the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

The African Commission, as the continent's human rights custodian, should lend its unequivocal support to the decriminalization trend. This is particularly significant as attempts are made to further criminalize and stigmatize sexual minorities in parts of Africa.

The commission has not yet expressed its view on the decision. Its 77th ordinary session, starting on 20 October 2023 in Arusha, Tanzania, is an opportunity to do so. It should build on its 2014 guidance to African states on eradicating violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mauritius court ruling

The Mauritian Supreme Court found that section 250 of the 1838 Mauritius Criminal Code, which criminalizes anal sex between two consenting adult men, violates the 1968 Mauritius constitution.

The litigant, Ah Seek, a gay Mauritian man and board member of the Mauritian NGO Collectif-Arc-en-Ciel, invoked a number of constitutional grounds. However, the court based its decision on the most directly relevant ground: the right not to be discriminated against.

In addressing two issues that could militate against a finding in Ah Seek's favor, the court relied on the approach of other courts in the SADC region. The 2021 judgment by Botswana's Court of Appeal was particularly relevant. This judgment held that the constitutionally protected ground of "sex" in the Botswana constitution encompassed "sexual orientation."

The first issue was the contention that Mauritius' constitution does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation." The relevant provision (section 16) forbids discrimination on the basis of seven specified grounds, including sex.

The Mauritian court concluded that the word "sex" in section 16 of the constitution includes "sexual orientation."

The court also emphasized the country's international human rights commitments. It said that, as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Mauritius was expected to interpret its constitution in line with this treaty.

The second issue was whether the rarity of prosecutions removed the need for the court to decide. Referring to a judgment by the South African Constitutional Court, the Mauritius court held that the mere threat of arrest, prosecution and conviction "hangs like the sword of Damocles over the heads of homosexual men."

The court therefore concluded that the constitution protected everyone from discrimination based on their sexual orientation, whatever it might be.

When it was given an opportunity to show any legitimate purpose for this form of discrimination, the state merely made reference to same-sex relations as a "highly sensitive issue" due to the "delicate socio-cultural and religious fabric of Mauritian society." Rejecting these as justifications for discrimination, the court underlined that Mauritius was a secular state.

Regional trend

Greater societal acceptance of homosexuality can be both a catalyst for and a consequence of decriminalization of same-sex relationships.

In a recent survey by the independent African surveys network Afrobarometer, Mauritius featured prominently as a country in which tolerance (towards an LGBT person as neighbor) had increased from 2014 to 2022.

Nine of the 11 African countries with an above-average tolerance percentage towards LGBT persons were from the SADC. All of these 11 states, except Eswatini, have decriminalized "sodomy laws."

The conditions for decriminalization seem to be converging in Eswatini. Its population displays a relatively high level of acceptance (of 42%) in the survey. Also, its Supreme Court has signaled some openness to uphold LGBT persons' rights.

Besides Eswatini, other SADC member states that still retain "sodomy" laws are Comoros, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. With the exception of the Comoros, the laws of these states are relics from British colonial times, when "sodomy" laws were imposed as part of a colonial "civilizing" mission. The Mauritius Supreme Court noted that, as a colonial import, section 250 did not reflect Mauritian values and was not the "expression of domestic democratic will."

Today, just over half of the SADC states do not criminalize same-sex relationships between consenting adults. The Democratic Republic of Congo never legislated on this matter. In Lesotho (2012), the Seychelles (2016), Mozambique (2015) and Angola (2019), the legislature in the last decade or so adopted a new version of the penal code. These offenses, stemming from the English common law or the 1886 Portuguese Penal Code, were omitted. In Madagascar, the penal code criminalizes consensual same-sex acts only with a person under 21 years old.

Still, the situation remains in flux. In Malawi and Namibia, litigation on related penal code provisions is pending. In Malawi, then President Joyce Banda in 2012 committed to repealing these laws. There was also a moratorium on arrests and prosecutions between 2012 and 2016, and a court-ordered review of the constitutionality of "sodomy laws."

In Namibia, the Supreme Court decided in 2023 that Namibia must recognize same-sex marriages validly concluded outside the country.

Diverging trend

In the rest of Africa, the position of sexual minorities is much more precarious. Thirty-one (almost 58%) of countries still criminalize consensual same-sex acts between adults. The trend is towards more restrictive laws and harsher punishment.

In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law the Anti-Homosexuality Act.
In Ghana, the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill is being considered.
In Kenya, the anti-gay Family Protection Bill carries a 50-year jail term. But the Supreme Court decided in February 2023 to allow the NGO National Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission to be registered.

These laws were initiated as private members bills. They are driven by individuals rather than any political party's agenda, and bolstered by an anti-LGBT solidarity conference of African parliamentarians.

African Commission's role

Against this background of opposing forces and divergent trends, the role of the African Commission is all the more important. The commission itself has sent mixed signals. It affirmed the right to dignity and bodily integrity of sexual and gender minorities. But it also refused to grant observer status to NGOs working to promote these rights.