More Giant Panda Info - Why Bamboo?

With super powered computers, genome sequencing is no longer a difficult thing to achieve - we hear that a complete genome is sequenced every now and then. The recently sequenced panda genome helped to point out that a mutation in one of its genes may cause the lovely bear to abandon the taste of meat and instead go for bamboo. Way to go!

However, because pandas do not have the capability to really digest bamboo and absorb its nutrients into their bodies, they have developed a slow metabolism rate... very much like me. That's why pandas and I are fat and we tend to move around less. :P

Hopefully, one day, the pandas will evolve and become better vegetarians. :)

via treehugger.