A study that could help develop an artificial milk formula for baby pandas has been launched by scientists at Glasgow University.
Staff at Edinburgh Zoo are currently on stand-by to assist if giant panda Tian Tian give birth - experts believe she may be pregnant and could go into labour this week.
At the moment, adapted cows milk is used to hand-rear panda cubs but conservationists would like to develop an artificial milk formula specifically for pandas.
State of the art technology is being used in the new study led to identify and characterise the protein and other molecules in the first panda milk.
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