Scientists confirm cub's gender and paternity

A giant panda cub born at the Smithsonian National Zoo on August 23 is female, scientists have confirmed.

After natural breeding attempts failed, the zoo's female panda, Mei Xiang, was artificially inseminated twice on March 30 this year.

During the first procedure, zoo scientists and veterinary surgeons artificially inseminated Mei Xiang with a combination of fresh and frozen semen from male panda, Tian Tian.

For the second procedure, the team used a combination of frozen semen collected from Tian Tian in 2003 and also frozen semen from San Diego Zoo's giant panda, Gao Gao.

To determine the sex of the cub, scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) analysed a fragment of the zinc finger protein gene. The were also able to confirm that a second, stillborn cub delivered by Mei Xiang was female.

Further, by comparing DNA samples from both cubs to profiles from Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Gao Gao, scientists determined that both cubs were sired by Tian Tian.

Pierre Comizzoli, reproductive biologist at SCBI, said: "We had never artificially inseminated Mei Xiang with semen from two males before this past breeding season.

"If Gao Gao had been the father of one or both cubs, that would have been very interesting because we would have known that the second artificial insemination was the one that was successful."

Mei Xiang and her cub can be seen by members of the public on panda cam but their habitat at the zoo will be closed until further notice to give them peace and quiet.

Visit the zoo's website to watch the pandas on panda cam.