After frequently finding myself encountering references to Belyaev’s fox experiment in a number of dog-related texts, I felt the need to investigate his experiment more thoroughly. This has resulted in a lot of reading, but a lot of new found knowledge. From this reading, I hope to have a better understanding of the connection dog-authors are trying to make between dogs and the fox experiment. I hope it also proves useful for my readers.
Part I – Introduction
A summary of the work of Belaev in his ongoing experiment with foxes.
Part II – Changes
Description of the changes observed in Belyaev’s fox experiment.
Part III – Answers
Possible reasons for the changes seen in the foxes in Belyaev’s experiment.
Part IV – Dogs?
Why does the Belyaev fox experiment matter to dogs?
I hope this series has been of interest, as I thoroughly enjoyed researching. I did cut out some bits and pieces, so please feel free to comment if you feel I haven’t answered a burning question for you! Additionally, if you would like in text referencing, I can provide such.
References:
Belyaev, DK 1979, ‘Destablizing selection as a factor in domestication’, Journal of Heredity, vol 70, iss 5, pp301-308. [link]
Belyaev, DK, Plyusnina, IZ & Trut, LN 1984, ‘Domestication in the silver fox (Vulpes fulvus desm): Changes in physiological boundaries of the sensitive period of primary socialization’, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol 13, pp359-370.
Gilbert, SF, ‘Evolution and domestication: selection on developmental genes?’, in Developmental Biology (8th edition). [link]
Hare, B, Plyusnina, I, Ignacio, N, Schepina, O, Stepkika, A, Wrangham, R & Trut, 2005, ‘Social cognitive evolution in captive foxes is a correlated by-product of experimental domestication’, Current Biology, vol 15, pp226-230. [link]
Kenttamies, H, Valberg Nordum, N, Brenoe, UT, Smeds, K, Rune Johannessen, KR & Bakken, M 2002, ‘Selection for more confident foxes in Finland and Norway: Heritability nad selection response for confident behaviour in blue foxes (Alopex lagopus)’, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol 78, pp67-82.
Kukekova, AV, Acland, GM, Oskina, IN, Kharlamova, AV, Trut, LN, Chase, K, Lark, KG, Hollis, NE, & Aguirre, GD 2006, ‘The genetics of domesticated behavior in canids: What can dogs and silver foxes tell us about each other?’, The Dog and Its Genome, Cold Spring Harbor Labratory Press. [link]
Kukekova, AV, Trut, LN, Oskina, IN, Johnson, JL, Temnykh, SV, Khariamova, AV, Shepeleva, DV, Gulievich, RG, Shikhevich, SG, Graphodatsky, AS, Aguirre, GD & Acland, GM 2007, ‘A meiotic linkage map of the silver fox, aligned and compared to the canine genome’, Genome Research, vol 17, pp387-399. [link]
“New Nice” on the Radiolab show in October 2009. [link] (I highly recommend this reference for a light hearted, audio version of this experiment.)
Trut, L 1999, ‘Early canid domestication: The farm-fox experiment’, American Scientist, vol 87, no 2, p160. [link] (I highly recommend this reference for further reading.)
Trut LN. 2001. Experimental Studies of Early Canid Domestication. In The Genetics of the Dog (ed A Ruvinksy and J Sampson). CABI 2001, p.15-43.
Trut, LN, Kharlamova, AV, Kukekova, AV, Acland, GM, Carrier, DR, Chase, K, & Lark, KG 2006, ‘Morphology and behavior: are they coupled at the genome level?’, The Dog and Its Genome, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Wdoobury, NY: 81-93. [link]
