15. The Behavioral and Genetic Chances That Transformed Wild Wolves Into Domesticated Dogs
Many domesticated animals, including dogs, show paedomorphic (continued juvenile) characteristics such as floppy ears, short snouts, and playful behavior – traits that are also associated with reduced aggression and increased sociability. A mid-twentieth century fox domestication experiment shed light on that. Selectively breeding foxes for tameness alone produced animals that not only tolerated humans. They also developed physical traits similar to those of domesticated dogs, such as changes in coat color, tail curl, and skull shape.
The results suggest that selection for behavior alone can trigger genetic and exterior changes consistent with domestication. Recent genetic research supports that. Dogs differ from wolves in genes related to digestion, stress response, and social behavior. For example, dogs are more able to digest starch, an advantageous trait for an animal that scavenges human food waste. Genetic changes linked to oxytocin pathways also impact dogs’ heightened sociability.
