Update: Chinese Researchers Finish Sequencing the Giant Panda Genome
China's Beijing Genomics Institute in Shenzhen announced 
that it has mapped the entire genetic code for the giant panda using DNA sequencing and analysis equipment from San Diego-based Illumina. The project began in mid 2008 and was completed by Jan.2009.
The panda at the center of this discovery is Jingjing, who lives in China's Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center and was the mascot for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The genetic information from Jingjing is expected to be complemented in the future with genetic information from other pandas.
Scientists hope to use the data from the sequencing project to better understand panda biology and reproduction. Giant pandas are difficult to breed in captivity and are currently on the endangered species list.
In China, the panda's genome sequencing was ranked by the Chinese government as one of the top 10 technology achievements of the year, right up there with the nation's space shuttle and the completion of the Tibetan railway.
Until next time...
Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!!
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The New York Times reported today that the Wuhan Zoo in Central China has taken to feeding its two 3-year-old pandas homemade chicken soup to reduce stress and provide them with a “nutritional boost.” Xiwang and Weiwei needed a boost after China’s weeklong National Day celebration. As many as 30,000 visitors swarmed the zoo this past Wednesday and over 1000 people packed into panda enclosure to see them. This caused the pandas to pace restlessly and zoo officials decided that it would be good to give them some chicken soup because they were “fatigued and had a bit of a shock.” Their normal diet consists mainly of bamboo, milk and buns..jpg)
Who can resist those adorable black and white Giant Pandas? Late last week, the International Giant Panda Genome Project was launched by Beijing Genomic Institute-Shenzhen, China. The goal of this project is to finish the sequencing and assembling of the draft sequence within six months. 
