Belly Bacteria in Giant Pandas

Belly Bacteria in Giant Pandas

http://news.yahoo.com/giant-pandas-thrive-bamboo-thanks-belly-bacteria-190607698.html

A recent study published October 17, 2011, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggested giant pandas have cellulose-degrading bacteria living in their guts. These bacteria are believed to be the reason pandas can derive calories from the bamboo plants.

The researchers studied the genetic sequences of bacterial ribosomes in wild and captive panda feces. They found 85 species of bacteria, 14 of which had never been described. They further studied the bacteria that had similar genes to those found in other herbivores. They found the genes that seem to break down cellulose are a species of Clostridium bacteria.

The researchers believe these bacteria combined with the pandas strong jaw and fake thumbs allow them to forage for, eat and digest bamboo and the cellulose within it whereas other mammals would not be able to digest the plant. Critics of the study say that just because the bacteria are there doesn’t mean they are working as predicted.

It seems plausible that the bacteria do play a critical role and it’s a classic symbiotic relationship.