"Genetic Breakthrough Solves Mystery of Rare Brown Pandas"
The mystery of the world's only captive brown and white panda, Qizai, has been solved with genetics. Researchers identified a gene, Bace2, that may be responsible for the unusual fur color by sequencing the genomes of brown and black-and-white pandas. Mice with the same mutation in Bace2 had light fur, suggesting a link to hypopigmentation. This discovery sheds light on the genetic basis of Qizai's unique coloring and represents a significant step in understanding these rare pandas.