Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026
07:13
Measuring Active and Passive Tameness Separately in Mice
Published on: August 10, 2018
7.7K
Behavior genetics and the domestication of animals
1IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden;
Annual Review of Animal Biosciences
|November 11, 2014
Summary
Domestication consistently alters animal behavior, often linked to reduced fear and stress. Genetic and epigenetic studies reveal key mechanisms driving these behavioral changes across species.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Domestication across species leads to a common set of behavioral traits.
- Reduced fear and enhanced stress tolerance are key initial domestication traits.
- Many domestication behaviors may be correlated with reduced fear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying behavioral domestication.
- To explore both top-down (phenotype to gene) and bottom-up (gene to phenotype) approaches.
- To discuss the role of epigenetic mechanisms in behavioral domestication.
Main Methods:
- Examining genetic loci associated with tameness in foxes and dogs.
- Identifying genetic loci linked to reduced aggression and increased sociality in chickens.
- Analyzing epigenetic mechanisms influencing animal behavior during domestication.
Main Results:
- Specific genetic loci identified for tameness in dogs and foxes.
- Genes correlated with reduced aggression and increased sociality in chickens.
- Evidence suggests epigenetic variants play a role in behavioral domestication.
Conclusions:
- Combined genetic and epigenetic approaches are powerful for studying behavioral domestication.
- Selection of epigenetic variants may have been crucial for domestication.
- Understanding these mechanisms provides insight into animal evolution and behavior.
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