User:Pandaslove18/Qinling panda

Scientists captured a Brown Panda along with his mother, a black and white panda, in 2009. They called him Qizai. Research signifies that the change in color was a cause of a mutation. There was a missing sequence of DNA in a gene known as ''Bace2. Bace2'' is a gene responsible for pigmentation in organisms. In order to verify their findings were accurate, scientists underwent an experiment testing mice where they utilized CRISPR-Cas9, a gene-editing tool. The team was able to manipulate the sequence of the mice DNA by deleting the mutation causing segment. Researchers reported that the 78 tested mice did have genetic changes in response to the experiment. The melanosomes count decreased, as well as the size of them. The coats of the genetically altered mice also had light-colored coats. Additionally, researchers were able to uncover a preserved tissue sample from Dandan, where they concluded she had the same recessive trait as Qizai.

In Shaanxi, China in 2018, the Qinling Panda Breeding Research Center was established, where the public could view the mysterious species of Brown Pandas in real life. In addition to visiting Shaanxi's panda, Qizai, people could view other rare species being held captive in the same research center as well. The total space is 287.4 hectares and is divided for feeding areas and breeding areas.