Pandas
Famously fond of bamboo, these cuddly creatures possess digestive tracts similar to those of animals with a carnivorous diet. Now, Chinese researchers believe they might understand the reason behind this.
It is claimed that consuming large amounts of the tall, rapidly growing plant can affect the hidden carnivores’ actions and control the bears’ olfactory and gustatory senses.
Originating from southwestern China, pandas consume bamboo for as long as 16 hours daily, incorporating a type of genetic material known as microRNA (miRNA) into their blood circulation, as reported in a study released Friday in the journal Frontiers.
The molecule can affect how genetic data moves throughout pandas’ bodies, thereby influencing their behavior, according to research conducted by China West Normal University located in Sichuan province.
Dr. Li Feng, a senior author from the university, stated, “miRNA has a role in regulating the gene expression of giant pandas.”
Li and his team discovered that this molecule plays a role in shaping various physiological functions within pandas’ bodies, such as development, biological cycles, behaviors, and immune reactions.
“MicroRNAs in bamboo play a role in regulating the sense of smell, taste, and dopamine pathways in giant pandas, all of which are connected to their eating behaviors,” he stated.
The research team thinks that as a baby panda matures, it will acquire the skill to select the choicest and most nourishing bamboo, facilitating their adaptation to a vegetarian diet.
The research relied on blood samples collected from six grown pandas and one young panda. In these samples, researchers identified 57 instances of miRNAs presumably originating from bamboo.
They believe this finding could assist researchers in gaining deeper insights into how plant microRNAs impact animals, which might lead to new methods for treating or preventing illnesses, as stated in the study.
Although pandas’ diets primarily consist of bamboo leaves, stems, and shoots, approximately 1% of their intake includes other vegetation and meat like small rodents, reports the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
According to the WWF, approximately 1,800 pandas inhabit the mountains within the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.
The primary dangers facing wild panda populations are habitat loss and fragmentation, making conservation efforts challenging. Additionally, their weak inclination to breed complicates these efforts. Moreover, when panda mothers eventually give birth, their cubs are incredibly delicate.
Over the past few decades, China has significantly increased its endeavors to protect pandas by expanding the number of panda reserves from 12 to 67.
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