Pandas are well-known for their love of bamboo, but research has revealed something interesting about these adorable creatures. Despite their bamboo-heavy diet, pandas have digestive systems that are usually found in carnivores. Scientists in China believe they understand why this is the case.
Researchers suggest that consuming a lot of bamboo affects not only pandas’ behavior but also their sense of smell and taste. Pandas, which are native to the mountainous regions of southwest China, spend a significant part of their day—up to 16 hours—eating bamboo. During this time, they absorb a unique genetic material called microRNA (miRNA) into their bloodstreams. This discovery was made in a study published in the journal “Frontiers.”
According to the researchers from China West Normal University in Sichuan, miRNA plays an important role in how pandas’ bodies process genetic information, influencing their behavior and physiology. Dr. Li Feng, a senior author of the research, explained that miRNA regulates gene expression in giant pandas, affecting various biological processes such as growth, behavior, and immune responses.
The study found that miRNA can also impact pandas’ sense of smell, taste, and even dopamine pathways, which are linked to their feeding habits. This means that as pandas consume bamboo, the miRNA they take in helps them adapt and refine their diet to become better at selecting the freshest and most nutritious bamboo as they grow.
For their study, researchers analyzed blood samples from six adult pandas and one juvenile. They identified 57 different types of miRNAs that were likely derived from bamboo. This finding could lead to a better understanding of how plant miRNA affects animals, offering potential insights for disease treatment and prevention.
While pandas mainly eat bamboo—leaves, stems, and shoots—it’s interesting to note that they also consume about one percent of their diet from other plants and occasionally small animals. As of now, there are about 1,800 wild pandas living among the mountains of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu in China, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The survival of pandas is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, along with their low reproductive rates, which complicates conservation efforts. When panda mothers do give birth, their newborns are very delicate and vulnerable.
In response to these challenges, China has ramped up its efforts to protect pandas, increasing the number of panda reserves from 12 to 67 over the past few decades. Thanks to these efforts, there is hope for the future of these beloved animals as more conservation measures are put in place.