Pandas are known for their love of bamboo, but their digestive systems are more similar to those of meat-eating animals, CNN reports.
Chinese scientists believe they have uncovered a key reason behind this dietary preference.
A new study published in the journal Frontiers suggests that consuming bamboo may influence the pandas’ behavior and their ability to perceive taste and smell. Researchers from China West Normal University in Sichuan province found that as pandas digest bamboo, they absorb genetic material called microRNA (miRNA) into their bloodstream. This molecule plays a role in regulating gene expression, impacting various physiological processes, including biological rhythms, immune responses, and feeding habits.
Dr. Li Feng, a senior author of the study, explained that miRNA from bamboo is specifically involved in regulating pandas’ sense of smell, taste, and dopamine pathways. This process helps pandas adapt to a plant-based diet despite their carnivorous digestive system. As a result, growing pandas develop the ability to identify the freshest and most nutritious bamboo, ensuring they get the best nutrients from their diet.
The study, which analyzed blood samples from six adult pandas and one juvenile, detected 57 traces of miRNAs likely derived from bamboo. Scientists hope that this discovery will not only deepen the understanding of how plant miRNA affects animals but also contribute to potential disease prevention or treatment strategies.
Despite their heavy reliance on bamboo, pandas occasionally consume other plants and even small amounts of meat, such as rodents, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Currently, around 1,800 pandas live in the wild, primarily in China’s Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. Habitat loss remains the greatest threat to their survival, along with their slow reproductive rates.
China has significantly expanded conservation efforts over the past few decades, increasing the number of panda reserves from 12 to 67.
