Did you guess RED PANDAS? Probably not - but surprise! It’s red pandas. Yes, this insanely cute cat-dog-bear-fox creature was actually studied for its surprising taste for the artificial sweetener, aspartame. In recent years, red pandas were identified as the first non-primate mammal to display a liking for the artificial sweetener aspartame.
This unexpected affinity for an artificial sweetener may reflect a fascinating variation in red pandas’ sweet taste receptor. The findings may shed light on how individual taste preferences and diet choice are shaped by molecular differences in taste receptors. You can read all about it on Science Daily!
