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Domestication
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Covers the history of domestication, and the process.
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Comparative Anatomy and Physiology in AnimalsLecture 2- Natural Selection and Domestication 14/10/20
Domestication
1. Its breeding is under human control.
2. It provides a product or service for humans.
3. It is tame.
4. It has been selected away from its natural type.
Definitions
- Domesticated animals- result of the domestication process.
- Breed- A group of animals that has been selected by man to possess a uniform appearance
that is heritable and distinguishes it from other groups of animals within the same species.
- Taming-the behavioural manipulation of a wild animal to allow it to be confident around
humans.
- Pet- a domesticated species kept by humans for aesthetic reasons or for pleasure.
- Feral- A domesticated specie that has reverted to living in a semi-natural state.
History of domestication
- 250,000 years ago -- World human population ~3 million.
- 40-50,000 years ago -- ‘Anatomically and behaviourally modern humans’ (Megafaunal
extinctions).
- 15,000 years ago -- Nomadic hunter-gathering to living in settlements (dogs appear).
- 9,000 years ago -- Cereal cultivation starts and people start to keep flocks and herds.
Key centres for domestication
- Central & South America.
- South-western Asia.
- Far east Asia.
Types of domestication
- Animal partners- completely moulded by humans, selective breeding to develop distinct
breeds.
- Exploited captives- enfolded into human society, little to no selective breeding as they
already have the required traits.
Biological process of domestication
- Founder species becomes habituated to humans.
- Changed with successive generations by natural selection, those animals that are able to
survive in the man-made environment survive and breed.
- Changed by artificial selection of traits valued by humans for economic, cultural, or aesthetic
reasons.
- Domestication of the wolf was almost certainly a multiple event given the wide geographic
ranges of wolves and humans. Island species variation is usually a single event.
Predisposed features for domestication
- Animals should be “hardy”: must be able to survive removal from its mother before weaning
and to adapt to a new diet and environment.
- Behavioural structure of the species should be allied to that of humans: normal behaviour
pattern based on a dominance hierarchy (can accept a human leader)
- Species should be “comfort-loving”: not adapted to instant flight when threatened.
- Fast rate of growth.
- Animals should be “useful”: provide food in an easily accessible form.
- Breed freely in captivity.
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