Turning Foxes Into House Pets by Lucky760
Here is a 3 minute clip from NOVA about the experiment (which has been submitted to the Sift here):
A rather fascinating experiment that was started over half a century ago by geneticists in Siberia (at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk) has yielded some truly awe-inspiring results, including what can be considered indisputable proof of evolution.
The experiment accomplished in foxes what Mother Nature took thousands of years to do with wolves. It began with wild foxes that were captured and kept in captivity. Not surprisingly, most of them were very aggressive toward all humans. The experimenters selected only those which exhibited the least aggression and bred them.
This is essentially how the study continued for generation after generation of breeding over several decades. The foxes were never given much contact with any humans except for brief studies. After selecting 45,000 foxes over 35 generations, some amazing observations were made.
The foxes were not only more tame showing little to no aggression toward humans, the obvious intent of the study, but several physical changes started to happen: coats were no longer camouflaged, but had lots of different colors and even started having patterns in their fur; straight, pointy ears became floppy; legs became shorter; tails were no longer straight and long, but short and curly.
This is clearly reminiscent of the way wolves evolved into such a vast plethora of breeds that vary so greatly from one another, except this evolution occurred in only a few decades rather than the assumed several millennia it took to change wolves into dogs.
Here is a video of a tame silver fox from the Discovery Channel's "The Ultimate Guide - Dogs." I'm unaware if any such foxes have been or are being bred and are available for strictly domestic purposes. I think I'd enjoy having one as a pet myself.
Now here is a tame fox that resulted from selective breeding.
And compare those two above to this aggressive fox. The difference is astounding.
One final note on the subject is that these studies were initially requested by fur makers who wanted foxes that were easier to handle. Evolution is not without a sense of irony. As a result of making foxes docile, those unexpected changes in their coats occurred, making them inappropriate for use in fur products. I think that's just neat.
Here is a story written by Malcolm W. Browne at the New York Times, which I'm posting here in case it ever disappears from the NY Times site. It's a very interesting read.
Other sources
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I am pretty sure it is illegal to keep a fox as a pet in most places in the US.
a born atheist at 9:09PM on Feb 7th 2008
2. Disturbing. The downbreeding of this wild animal for some French women in Paris to wear after they have been murdered. I am so happy they are no longer viable as adornments.
The tags on the videos are confusing in reference to the final commentary re; now compare this wild fox to the 2 tame fox above. I only saw a wild fox from the first video. There was a tame fox from domestication, a horrible sad, confused, literally crying selectively bred fox(that was horrible to do that, sorry, so wrong), then the last video was a tame fox also.
I was in Paris in December and the oh so very sophisticated Parisienne women wore dead animals in abundance and with glee. I was on Montaigne(like 5th or Rodeo dr) turning the corner and almost damn near passed out, my retinas are permanantly burnt, in an Haute Couture display the mannequin had itself adorned with a drape a la the 1940's of a white mink body over its right shoulder but the kicker was normally these things have the lids ofthe murdered animal closed and the lids blend in with the fur. This poor mink, I do not know who thought this little added extra up but definitely a sociopath, added diamond brooches shoved in where the eyes had been! 911, PETA, Send lots 'o red paint to Paris, pronto! Sad, tragic as was the selectively bred fox.
Pardon me born atheist, I am quite sure illegal wiretapping of US citizens, Torture, invading a country by deceitful means, undercutting the House of Representatives, murdering 1.2 MN civilians, 4,000 US Military, putting peaceful demonstrators on 'No Fly Lists', GITMO, Abu Ghraib, and every gazillion other violation bush et al has committed is illegal as well, so prove it.
rhodalee at 10:21PM on Feb 7th 2008
3. I dunno Jeff that fox in the video looks like a good jacket to me.
mac at 12:12AM on Feb 8th 2008
4. Jeff...
I'm not so convinced that magnifying desirable characteristics in any animal through selective breeding is actual "proof" of evolution. After all, humanity has been selectively breeding dogs for centuries, but the traits we admire in dogs vanish pretty rapidly without human interference dictating the course of canine development.
Case in point, Silver Lake Park in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania had a very serious problem with wild dogs during the 1970s. Now, those dogs were all the offspring of stray family pets. It didn't take those hounds very long to "unlearn" their habit of trusting humanity. In fact, they actually began attacking visitors to the park as part of their territorial defense.
I think that this documented incidence of family pets reverting to a more aggressive and natural structure in Pennsylvania sort of debunks this notion that selectively breeding foxes clearly demonstrates evolution.
But I'd need more information to be absolutely convinced of anything.
Paul at 10:15AM on Feb 8th 2008
5. Notice how the fox kept going to his food dish and pushing it. Evidently he was trying to communicate his desire for a full dish.
3:00 this morning my boxer, Rocky woke me up. He communicates this way. He will get in my face and growl. I will say, Rocky what do you want. Do you want food? If he continues growling it means no. How about your toy? More growling. Do you need to go outside? He barks. That means yes. He runs to the door and I let him outside.
I wish my wife and I could communicate this way. I never know what she wants.
Steve Seivers at 12:41PM on Feb 8th 2008
6. Sounds as if they're reinventing the dog. Maybe science can use todays technology to address genetic shortcomings prevalent in certain breeds.
Example: Large breed dogs such as Mastiffs, St. Bernards, Rotweillers, ect. have a high percentage of hip-joints that are not fully formed.
Operations performed by veterinarians accustomed to this condition can alleviate the problem. But this is expensive and not always 100% successful.
Other,smaller breeds derived from foxes have their litany of genetically passed shortcomings also. Eye/ear infection problems come to mind with these.
Now if they can only come up with a dog that LIKES the vaccuum cleaner !
BILL G at 1:34AM on Feb 13th 2008