ISLAMABAD: The giant panda, celebrated for its iconic black-and-white appearance, is a globally recognized species.
While red-and-white fur is a rare occurrence, particularly limited to pandas residing in a specific mountain range in China, recent studies suggest there may be a rationale behind this unusual coloring.
Research conducted on both wild and captive pandas indicates that these variations in coat color are not solely due to genetic uniformity within the panda population, but rather stem from natural variations within the species.
The discovery of a brown panda, initially recorded in 1985 with subsequent sightings, further supports the notion that such anomalies may have a place within the panda’s genetic heritage.
Dr. Fuwen Wei, speaking at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Zoology, emphasized the significance of understanding this unique aspect of panda coloring in various conservation assessments.
Researchers, utilizing a male brown panda named Qizai, have unveiled crucial genetic insights into the inheritance of this trait, which can inform breeding programs for captive pandas.
Genetic analysis of Qizai’s fur revealed distinct characteristics differentiating it from the typical black-and-white panda, attributed to differences in melanosomes, the structures responsible for pigmentation in skin and hair.
Furthermore, scientists identified genetic lineage patterns in Qizai’s family tree, indicating inherited traits associated with the Bace2 gene.
