Why did some pandas turn brown? Scientists found the key gene

Chinese zoologists have identified a genetic source behind the unusual brown-and-white coat color of certain giant pandas, including the world’s first brown panda discovered in 1985. Researchers from the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences sequenced the genomes of three panda families connected with the brown-and-white panda named Qizai, as well as 29 black-and-white pandas. They identified a mutation in the Bace2 gene as the likely genetic basis for the unique coat color. Further analysis on captive pandas and a genetically engineered mouse model supported their findings. The results offer insights into coat color variation in wild animals and can guide the scientific breeding of rare brown pandas. The study was published in the U.S. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source – CGTN