Pandas Famously fond of bamboo, these cuddly creatures possess digestive tracts similar to those of animals with a preference for meat-based diets. Now, Chinese researchers believe they might understand the reason behind this contradiction.
It is claimed that overindulging in the large, rapidly growing plant can affect the hidden predators' actions and control the bears' olfactory and gustatory senses.
Originating from southwestern China, pandas consume bamboo for as long as 16 hours each day, incorporating a type of genetic material known as microRNA (miRNA) into their blood circulation, as reported in a study released on 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 based 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 the 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 linked to their eating behaviors," he explained.
The researchers think that as a baby panda matures, it will learn to select the ripest and most nourishing bamboo, helping them adjust 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 approaches for treating or preventing illnesses, as stated in the study.
Although pandas' diets primarily consist of bamboo leaves, stems, and shoots, approximately 1% of what they eat includes other plants and even meats like small rodents, reports the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
According to the WWF, approximately 1,800 pandas can be found in their natural habitat, wandering across 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 difficult. Additionally, their low reproductive drive complicates these preservation attempts. Once born, infant pandas are exceedingly delicate.
Over the past few decades, China has significantly increased its endeavors to protect pandas, expanding the number of panda reserves from 12 to 67.
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