Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
08:14
A Method to Define the Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Colon Microbiome Biodiversity in a Mouse Colon Tumor Model
Published on: February 28, 2018
9.4K
Gut microbiome community structure correlates with different behavioral phenotypes in the Belyaev Farm-Fox Experiment
Lara C Puetz1, Tom O Delmont2, Alex L Mitchell3
1Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. lara.c.puetz@gmail.com.
Communications Biology
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Domestication
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Microbiome research
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Domestication involves significant biological shifts, often driven by behavioral selection.
- The gut microbiome influences host behavior and can adapt to environmental changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the gut microbiome's role in the early stages of animal domestication.
- To explore how selection for tameness in foxes correlates with gut microbiota composition and function.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of gut microbiota in tame and aggressive fox strains from the Russian-Farm-Fox-Experiment.
- Metagenomic sequencing to identify microbial pathways and compositional differences.
Main Results:
- Tame foxes showed a depletion of bacteria linked to aggression and fear in other mammals.
- Enriched microbial pathways in tame foxes included glutamate degradation, suggesting host-microbiota interactions.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota composition and function may be indirectly selected during domestication.
- Host-microbiota interactions could play a role in behavioral plasticity and adaptation to domestication environments.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Gut-Brain Axis
51
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such...
51
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
21
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
21
01:24Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
97
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
97
01:27Microbiota of the Large Intestine
24
The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
24
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
8.1K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
8.1K
01:23Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
1.3K
Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
1.3K