
Tracing Omicron’s origins
A new analysis has shown that the coronavirus variant, Omicron, had its origins in the South African province of Gauteng, with BA.1, BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 starting there. The study1 published in Nature Communications analysed about one million sequences of the BA lineages of Omicron from the data platform GISAID, including BA.1 to BA.5 as well as BA.2.86. The work, by Tulio de Oliveira and his team at the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, who first detected the Omicron variant and warned the world. The latest study underscores the critical role of regional genomic surveillance in global pandemic response and provides insights into how variants arise and spread worldwide.
Ancient proteins hint at sex differences in African Paranthropus robustus
Protein sequences preserved in four tooth fossils from the southern African hominin species, Paranthropus robustus, indicate that a small tooth once thought to belong to a female was actually male. The Science2 study upends a longstanding assumption among scientists about the ancient human cousin – size alone cannot reliably indicate sex in P. robustus, challenging theories of extreme sexual dimorphism in the species. The team, including researchers from the Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI), University of Cape Town, in South Africa, also found subtle variations in the tooth proteins, suggesting an unexpected level of genetic diversity within P. robustus populations, hinting at distinct subgroups or even multiple intertwined species in South Africa around two million years ago. The study shows how the analysis of ancient proteins can reveal details far beyond what fossils alone can offer.
EU-Africa policy interventions needed to boost African green hydrogen exports
Africa needs cost-effective strategies and policy support to become a major green hydrogen player, researchers suggest in a study3 published in Nature Energy, in which they map the economic viability of green hydrogen production across six countries with port access. The researchers assessed cost-effective strategies for producing and exporting green hydrogen from Africa to Europe, and estimated the cost for potential green hydrogen exporters on the African continent under four financing scenarios. They conclude that without government help, it would be difficult to produce green hydrogen in Africa because of high interest rates and tough economic conditions.
With African countries facing competition from other regions the researchers call for support through European government guarantees.
Underutilised crops could help fight food insecurity
New research into the cultivation of under-utilised crops (UCs) shows that their adoption could help fight climate-change driven water scarcity and food insecurity. The study surveyed 1,200 households across three provinces of South Africa – North West, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo – to understand the cultivation of UCs. It found that farms that included UCs achieved a higher level of water and food security than those that did not.
According to the authors of the study4 led by Abiodun Olusola Omotayo from North-West University in Mafikeng, South Africa and published in Scientific Reports, UCs are not only resilient to harsh climatic conditions but also provide essential nutrients that enhance diet quality. They call for supportive policies, increased research investment, and awareness campaigns to promote the adoption of UCs.