"Pandas are NOT bears!" This a phrase I heard throughout my childhood, and also my children's. However, in 2009, it was established pandas are indeed bears. A panda's genome was sequenced, and the information unlocked firmly places pandas in the family Ursidae and the order Carnivora.
They produce amylase, cellulase and maltase, all necessary enzymes to digest meat. They do not create enzymes for digesting bamboo, and bamboo is a huge part of a giant panda's diet. It is thought the panda's gut bacteria is responsible for the breakdown of bamboo.
Pandas have a mutation in the T1R1 gene. This is an umami detector, and allows us to find pleasure in meats, cheese, and other protein-rich food. Bamboo, and bamboo shoots especially, are very high in protein. They have some carbohydrates, lots of minerals, and are low in fat.
Essentially pandas are vegan carnivores. They have found a fake meat, and love it.
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