Pandas Choose Bamboo Over Gut Instinct: Scientists Reveal Why

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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 intriguing fact.

It is claimed that indulging in the large, rapidly growing vegetation 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, with studies released Friday in the journal Frontiers indicating that they absorb a type of genetic material known as microRNA (miRNA) into their blood circulation.

The molecule can affect how genetic information moves throughout pandas' bodies, thereby influencing their behavior, according to research led by China West Normal University 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 has an influence over various physiological functions in pandas' bodies, such as development, circadian rhythms, 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 explained.

The researchers think that as a baby panda matures, it will learn to choose the ripest and most nutrient-rich bamboo, allowing them to thrive on 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 occasionally meat like small rodents—according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Around 1,800 pandas reside in their natural habitat, wandering across mountains within the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu, according to the WWF.

The primary dangers facing wild panda populations are habitat loss and fragmentation, making conservation efforts difficult. Additionally, their modest inclination towards reproduction complicates these efforts further. Newborn pandas are particularly vulnerable when they arrive, being exceedingly delicate creatures.

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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